Assignment #2 - Toxicity Assessment

Product: Bath and Body Works Midnight Pomegranate Body Lotion

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteraryl A;cohol. Fragrance, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Aloe barbendensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pryus Malus (Apple) fruit Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Macadamia Ternfolia Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Carbomer, Alpha-isomethyl Ionene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hyrdroxycitronellal, Linalool, Red 33, Lake, Red 4, Blue 1

The ingredient I'm highlighting is Propylene Glycol, partlly because its in just about all lotions, potions and soaps, but also because you can actually go out and buy it at any soap-making soap. I happen to have a bottle of it.

 It has a hazard rating of 4/10 on the cometics database. it been linked to...

• Cancer
• Reproductive Toxicity
• Allergies
• Skin Irritation
• Organ System Toxicity
• and more!

On the ohter hand, all of these have "limited evidence" or "one or more tests" have shown specific results. In general, it is allowed in proportions of up to 50% in most cosmetics.

I probably will not replace this ingredient in my usual routine. it is pretty ubiquitous, and harmless at low doses, even when eaten.

Enviromental Footprint

Here are my results for my global footprint:

If everyone was like me, we would go through 4.6 earths! Most of that is made up of services, and most of the land I use is for energy.  However, according to them, there isn't much I can do. Following all of their suggestions (stop flying, eat less meat, recycle more, and take more public transpotation) would only get me down to 4 earths' worth of resources. It really doesn't take into account the fact that I walk everywhere.

But, to reduce my carbon footprint, I'll try these three things.

1) Start composting. I tried this over the summer, but let it go by the wayside. Its time to start again (and maybe empty it more often so it doesn't get as gross.) I also need to turn the composter at least once a week, and source some more dry goods to put in there.

2) Walk even more. I'll start walking to get groceries instead of driving.

3) Manage my electricity usage. The major source of electricity we use in our apartement is for heating and electronics. I can set up the electronics so that they are on a power flat with an easy-to-reach switch, so I can keep them from draining power when they are switched off. I also have a goal of not turning up the heat until the end of October. I'll close the blinds at night, open them on the sunny side in the morning, and make use of my sweatshirts, blankets, and slippers. I can also use less energy by using the dryer less and air-drying my clothes, and by taking shorter showers w/less hot water.