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From Loretta Williamson

Dear Carole

I heard about your new company via the Natural and Organic Show. What I would like to know is, should I take an interest in the absorption of chemicals through the skin? I have small children- do they absorb chemicals even more readily? I read somewhere that 60% of stuff applied to the skin goes into the body- is this true? Should I worry?

All the best

Loretta Williamson

Carole writes:

Dear Loretta

Thanks for your enquiry. I have spoken to our technical people, and they suggested I should refer you to scientific papers freely available on the Internet, rather than just waffle on! First, should you take an interest? Yes! We all know that you are what you eat, that’s obvious. But you are also what you rub on, and more and more evidence is accumulating that chemicals absorbed through the skin can build up over time into a health problem. A good place for you to start might be to look at the research into parabens. These are synthetic chemicals which act as preservatives; they are found in loads of toiletries. There is as yet no direct evidence that they are bad for you, but recent research has shown that they have been found inside the breast of patients with breast cancer, and that they appear to mimic the behaviour of estrogens, naturally occurring substances found in the human body which themselves have links to cancer. See a paper by Philip W Harvey (no relation honest!) in www.interscience.wiley.com

Now, as for kids and chemicals, you could look at a paper about the well-known anti-biotic Bactroban. There is nothing wrong with this product so far as we are aware, I am simply talking about its rate of absorbtion. A study quoted on the Physicians Desk Reference website ( a site used by doctors in the United States to get information about proprietary medicines) states that whereas adults absorbed 44% of the active ingredient through the skin, kids absorbed 90%. Their skin is thinner and softer, as my daughter constantly reminds me!

As for the rate at which substances are absorbed through the skin, the most interesting example I’ve seen recently is in a book with the catchy title of Percutaneous Absorption by Robert L Bronaugh. This demonstrated that some hair dyes can be detected in urine within 30 minutes of being applied to the scalp! That’s how fast some products travel from skin to, well- everywhere…

So, be watchful, but don’t become paranoid.

Best regards

Carole

From Smith Hill

Dear Carole,

I am a bit confused regarding what ‘organic’ products provide versus ‘natural products’. I would also like to know what the benefits are in using organic home products.

With Regards,

Smith Hill

Dear Smith,

Thank you for your query addressing an issue a lot of our customers wonder about. Some people consider the word ‘Natural’ on a product label to mean ‘Healthy’, but it actually only implies that the product has gone through minimal processing before reaching the consumer. The main characteristics of certified organic products are the adherence to specific growing standards, restrictions on use of pesticides and specific requirements on the use of preservatives. Natural products aren’t obliged to undergo the strict testing and supervision required for organic certification.

The same way you could ingest chemicals from treated foods, you can also inhale harmful substances in the air around you and from the surfaces in your house. This is why our products are made from organic components in organically certified facilities to provide a safe and healthy environment for yourself and your family.

best wishes,