Right to Know <--Return to Right To Know Main Page           DEA, TEA, MEA chemicals found in products as their main ingredients DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Tea, triethanolamine), MEA(Cocamide DEA; Laurimide DEA; Linoleamide DEA, Oleamide DEA) (solvent, emulsifier, wetting agent) Found in most things--shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving gels, bubble bath, skin creams, etc.   US Dept of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program, 1997 (NTP TR 478): · clear evidence of carcinogenic activity "Diethanolamine was selected for evaluation because its large-scale production and pattern of use indicate potential for widespread human exposure." NTP requested that the FDA require a warning label on all formulations containing cocamamide DEA History: 1979--FDA warned that 42% of all cosmetics were found contaminated with NDEA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine) which is formed when DEA reacts with nitrosating agents (may be through actual addition of nitrite as a preservative, through degradation of other ingredients or by exposure to air) 1991--FDA found that 27 of 29 of the products they tested were still contaminated No way of telling if NDEA has been formed...so avoid all DEA, TEA, MEA--in 1996, the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association stated that "These chemicals...should not be used as ingredients in cosmetic products." For products without DEA or any of the above chemicals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   top of page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Copyright © www.healthy-communications.com Telephone: 310-457-5176 or 888-377-8877 | Fax: 877-885-4657 For General Information: Info@healthy-communications.com Webmaster for Healthy-Communications.com: Shelley R. Kramer