"Chemical Found in Baby Shampoos Not Toxic: Health Canada"

"OTTAWA — Health Canada on Friday concluded that a chemical considered a possible carcinogen and commonly found in trace amounts in baby shampoo, bubble bath and liquid soap should not be listed as toxic to human health.

Manufacturers in Canada are not permitted to add 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in cosmetics and personal-care products, but the chemical is found in trace amounts in many items as a byproduct of the manufacturing process.

Environmental Defence, which led the charge to ban bisphenol A in baby bottles, had hoped Health Canada would designate the chemical as 'toxic' under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This would have required the government to draft a plan to manage the chemical to protect the health of Canadians under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan.

Janelle Witzel, co-ordinator of Environmental Defence's Toxic Nation campaign, said she was 'disappointed' by the government's conclusion."

 
Sarah Schmidt reports for Canwest News Service September 4, 2009.