Are "Safe" Baby Shampoos & Lotions Secretly Packed With Cancer-Causing Chemicals?

Phenoxyethanol, a broad-spectrum preservative and solvent, is commonly used in personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products.

Also known as ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, phenoxyethanol is classified as both a glycol ether (linked with reproductive harm) and ethoxylated alcohol (associated with cancer risk).

Phenoxyethanol is synthesized via ethoxylation, which involves reacting phenol with ethylene oxide (EO), a petrochemical so toxic and with such a profound history of cancer among nurses and others exposed to it that it is a known human breast carcinogen. Studies show that when phenoxyethanol is used as an ingredient in products, it is likely to be contaminated with a metabolite of EO that studies show also causes cancer.

This chemical is called 1,4-dioxane. Known simply as dioxane, this metabolite is a powerful carcinogen too. As the Food and Drug Administration notes, “The compound 1,4-dioxane is a trace contaminant in some cosmetic products. It is not used as an ingredient in cosmetics, but may be present in extremely small amounts in some cosmetics. 1,4-dioxane forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetic ingredients.” The FDA goes on to say that these ingredients include certain detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, and solvents identifiable by the prefix, word, or syllables “PEG,” “Polyethylene,” “Polyethylene glycol,” “Polyoxyethylene,” “-eth-,” or “-oxynol-.” The technical name for phenoxyethanol is ethylene glycol monophenyl ether. In other words, it is also an ethoxylated alcohol and therefore potentially contaminated with dioxane.

Our children are directly and intimately exposed to this chemical at birth, often from the moment they are bathed in bubble bath at the hospital through their arrival home, with products like bubble baths, shampoos, and liquid soaps.

There is no specific percentage of products that contain dioxane, as 1,4-dioxane is not an intentionally added ingredient in cosmetics. Instead, because it is a contaminant, 1,4-dioxane is never disclosed on product labels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports, based on an extensive product analysis, that up to 22 percent of personal-care and cosmetic products may contain 1,4-dioxane due to the presence of ethoxylated ingredients. Regulatory standards, such as those overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, restrict 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic products to a maximum limit of 10 parts per million (ppm). Dioxane is also a water pollutant. It is very prevalent now in groundwater supplies, yet expensive to remove from public water sources or private wells.

Reproductive Harm and Cognitive Impairment

But concerns over phenoxyethanol’s presence in personal care, cosmetics, and cleaning products extend beyond cancer to suggestive evidence of human reproductive harm. A study in Environmental Health Perspectives provides evidence of associations between prenatal exposure to phenoxyethanol and cognitive impairment in children. Researchers in France measured five glycol ether metabolites in urine samples from 204 pregnant women, collected between 2002 and 2006 as part of the broader PELAGIE mother–child cohort. At age six, their children were given a series of neurocognitive tests to assess verbal comprehension, working memory, and visuospatial ability. All the women had detectable levels of the metabolites phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) and 2-butoxyacetic acid (BAA) in their urine (BAA is a by-product of two restricted glycol ethers used in hair dyes, spray paints, and cleaners). After adjusting for potential confounders, including the mother’s intelligence and the amount of cognitive and emotional stimulation the child received at home, the researchers found that higher verbal comprehension scores among the children were associated with lower levels of PhAA in their mothers’ urine during pregnancy. PhAA is the primary metabolite of phenoxyethanol. This study suggests that phenoxyethanol exposure during pregnancy lowers children’s cognitive abilities, much like other glycol ethers.

In a 2013 study, 93 percent of pregnant women had PhAA in their urine. Researchers examined the relation between women’s exposure to glycol ethers and time to pregnancy. “Phenoxyacetic acid was the only metabolite with a statistically significant association with longer time to pregnancy…. This association remained stable after multiple sensitivity analyses.”

The study concludes, “Phenoxyacetic acid, which was present in most of the urine samples tested in our study, was associated with increased time to pregnancy. This metabolite and its main parent compound, 2-phenoxyethanol, are plausible causes of decreased fecundability, but they may also be surrogates for potential coexposures to compounds frequently present in cosmetics.”

The authors note that this high detection frequency and the relatively short half-life of these metabolites in the body (6–80 hours) suggest that exposures are not only common but also repeated.

Regulatory Action and Natural Alternatives

The European Union has already restricted the use of several glycol ethers due to concerns about potential reproductive toxicity and other health risks. The Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health reports that an expert assessment by the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (national agency for drug and health safety, ANSM) issued guidelines in 2018 that limit the use of phenoxyethanol in cosmetic products intended for small children.

Several non-toxic and natural alternatives can replace phenoxyethanol as a preservative in skincare and cosmetics. A 2020 report in Molecules notes multiple alternatives for use in products. Any of these is preferred to phenoxyethanol, which should be avoided in your personal care, cosmetic, and household cleaning products.

• Sodium Benzoate & Potassium Sorbate: Plant-derived salt preservatives that safely prevent mold and yeast growth.
• Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: A probiotic-based ferment that acts as a natural, non-toxic antimicrobial agent.
• Benzyl Alcohol: A naturally occurring organic alcohol (often from fruits) that fights bacteria.
• Fermentation-based Peptide Blends: Complexes derived from natural fermentations (such as Epsilon Polylysine) that offer broad-spectrum protection.
• Anhydrous Formulas: If you want to avoid preservatives entirely, switch to water-free formulas (like pure oils and body butters), which naturally resist bacteria.