Nitrosamines: danger in 2 parts

In these days we have learned that The European Commission has ordered in a regulation approved on October 6, 2023 reduce the levels of nitrites and nitrates used as preservatives by the food industry—mainly in sausages, but also in other processed meats and some cheeses and fish—in accordance with the measures contemplated in the European Plan to Fight Cancer.

But let's explain the relevance of this news:

NITROSAMINES

Nitrosamines are very reactive products, and can vary the structure of DNA, being mutagenic, with high carcinogenic potential (they are at the origin of some types of cancer: pharynx, esophagus and stomach) and behind other disorders, especially in babies, Interfere with the transport of oxygen through the blood to all the cells in the body. This chemical is also found in tobacco and its smoke.

CAN WE FIND THIS CHEMICAL IN COSMETICS?

No less than one in five beautification products, especially decorative cosmetics, reveal significant levels of reactive nitrate variation according to random sampling by the German Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. In mascara, eye pencils and eye liners, the proportion of products that contain this substance, which is considered highly poisonous even in minute quantities, rises to 40%. Although in the INCI list we will never find nitrosamines in the composition, as they are prohibited.

Furthermore, as they are formed by the reaction of AMINES with NITRITES, these are found separately. Amines in cosmetics and Nitrites in Food potentially, and also as preservatives in certain cosmetics.

WHAT ARE AMINES, HOW TO FIND THEM?

That innocuous word is nothing more nor less than ammonia compounds. They are used as foaming agents, soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners and dyes, lotions, shaving creams, paraffins and waxes, household cleaning products, pharmaceutical ointments, eyeliners, mascara, eye shadows, blush, foundations. makeup, foundations, fragrances, sunscreens.

In INCI (Cosmetic Ingredients) we can find it as (MEA, DEA, TEA, EDTA,...): calcium disodium EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, trisodium EDTA, DEA or diethanolimine, tea or triethanolamine, cocamide DEA or cocamide diethanolimine, lauramide DEA or lauramide diethanolimine, DEA lauryl sulfate or sulfate diethanolimine, linoleaide DEA or linoleaide diethanolimine, oleamide DEA or oleamide diethanolimine.

AND THE NITRITES? HOW TO FIND THEM?

Nitrite ingredients are chemicals that are often used as preservatives in skin care products and cosmetic products.

Nitrate and nitrite are present in nature. They reach humans through water and, especially, some vegetables such as green leafy vegetables (spinach, chard, borage...). and in fruits, cured meats, fish, dairy products, beers and cereals.

This is the reason why the Ministry of Health recommends that children under one year old do not consume spinach or chard and that they take less than 45g per day until they are three years old. Borage should not be consumed until the age of four.

Some meats and meat products contain it, added as a preservative. And this is precisely what is regulated.

NITROSATING AGENTS

At INCI you will find them: 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, cocoyl sarcosine, dea compounds, imidazolidinyl urea, formaldehyde, hydrolyzed animal proteins, lauryl sulfate sarcosine, mea compounds, quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etc., sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, tea compounds.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

The first thing is to avoid these types of products and ingredients. In Emocosmetics We will always recommend Natural Cosmetics that are 100% free of Toxins. In addition, natural cosmetic products are based on many plant ingredients obtained from organic or biodynamic agriculture that does not use nitrogen derivatives such as artificial fertilizers, so the possibility of forming nitrosamines in the environment also decreases.