If you are trying to be an informed consumer, this latest revelation will drive you nuts. It appears that some chemicals are exempt from labelling laws. So when we carefully read labels to be aware of the ingredients and choose what products to use, only part of the information is disclosed.

Even worse, it turns out that compounds like formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are slipping through the cracks. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics just released a study after testing a variety of products, including shampoo and bubble bath for children. More than sixty percent of the products contained both chemicals, while 82 percent contained detectable formaldehyde and 67 percent had 1,4-dioxane. The problem is that these compounds are present as contaminants, not ingredients, so they do not need to be listed.

Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen used in a wide range of products and manufacturing processes. In cosmetics, it is produced by preservatives - quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, and diazolidinyl urea - as they sit in a container. Even at low levels, it is associated with contact dermatitis in children. Formaldehyde is banned in some countries, including Sweden and Japan, while it is restricted in Canada and the European Union.

The second compound, 1,4-dioxane, is a possible human carcinogen. Not deliberately added, it is a byproduct of cosmetic manufacturing when ethylene oxide is used. When some ingredients are combined - including detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, and solvents - 1,4-dioxane is created. A process known as vacuum stripping can reduce production during cosmetic manufacture, but it is voluntary to use this additional step. The compound is banned by European Union legislation, and any affected products would be subject to recall. The US does not have any regulation that limits these and many other toxic chemicals in personal care products.

The revelation is sparking concern and anger. Thousands of people are contacting their congressional representatives. For a start, they want to know why the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these products for trace contaminants. In response, the agency counters that the detected levels are very low, that any contact is fleeting, and that evaporation further reduces any risk.

The Personal Care Products Council, an industry group, rejects the claim that products have problematic contaminants. Any unintentional levels would be extremely low and the alternative would be potential bacterial growth. At the same time, the report has spurred testing in other countries. Some countries have removed the US-made products from the shelves.

While the measured levels are quite low for a single product, cumulative effects are a concern. Many babies and small children are bathed daily, using a combination of products. Imagine using bubble bath in the water, shampoo on hair, and finishing off with some baby lotion. Not to mention other sources of exposure in and out of the home.

If you are concerned about what is lurking in your cosmetics, here are some basic steps:

1. Choose products with fewer ingredients. Use fewer products.

2. Read the labels. To avoid 1,4-dioxane, look out for ingredients such as PEG or PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, ceteareth-20, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or any compounds containing “-eth-” or “-oxynol-.”

3. Contact your congressional representative (in the US) and relay your concerns.

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