Undisclosed chemicals in personal care products

A laboratory analysis published in the journal Environment & Health revealed that 98% of 113 tested personal care and cleaning products contained undisclosed chemicals. Researchers, including Jenna Hua of the Million Marker Research Institute, utilized nontargeted chemical analysis to screen for thousands of substances across 12 categories, such as shampoos, sunscreens, soaps, and baby lotions. While labels listed an average of 16 ingredients, testing detected an average of 51 chemicals per product.

Approximately 85% of the items contained at least one unlisted substance with known or suspected health hazards, such as phthalates, parabens, fragrance chemicals, and BHT, which are linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, allergies, and metabolic changes. The study also found that one in four products contained chemicals that contradicted their marketing claims; for example, some items labeled ‘phthalate-free’ were found to contain phthalates.

Subsequent reports highlighted that 26% of products marketed as ‘eco’, ‘green’, or ‘natural’ contained dangerous compounds. The detected substances included phthalates, parabens, PFAS, and formaldehyde, which are associated with cancer, neurological disease, and developmental issues. Researchers noted that while some unlisted substances may result from raw materials or packaging, the prevalence of undisclosed chemicals suggests that reading labels may not fully protect consumers from exposure. Consumer advocates continue to call for stricter oversight and mandatory testing to determine if these discrepancies result from unintentional contamination or intentional adulteration.