Personal care products are awash in unlabeled toxic chemicals, study finds

Many of the chemicals discovered are linked to cancer, neurological disease, reproductive harm and damage to developing children. Photograph: Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Getty Images

Common personal care products widely contain unlabeled toxic chemicals, results from a new peer-reviewed study suggest. The testing of more than 110 items ranging from shampoo to baby lotions found evidence of unlabeled toxic chemicals in about 85%.

Many contained multiple ingredients known to be carcinogens or health hazards, and even 26% of products labeled “eco”, “green” or “natural” contained at least one dangerous compound. The products averaged more than three times as many chemicals than were listed on labels.