Aluminum Chlorohydrate

Aluminum Chlorohydrate 

By: Iram Sikandar

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A lot of us use the word antiperspirant and deodorant interchangeably, however these products are used to achieve different results. Deodorant is basically used to get rid of or eliminate unwanted body odour, basically get rids of the stinky smell; Whereas antiperspirant will block sweat glands to prevent production of sweat (2). This leads us to the chemical in question Aluminum Chlorohydrate.

What is it?

Aluminum Chlorohydrate is an Aluminum based salt.  The primary source of Aluminum Chlorohydrate is bauxite ore. The chemical is retrieved from the ore via mining (3).    

What does it do?

It is used in antiperspirants to decrease the production of sweat.  It is also used in purification of water systems to remove dissolved organic material.   It is one of the 18 wetness protection ingredients that are approved by the Food and Drug association sweat (3).  It’s not clear as to how exactly the Aluminum Chloride prevents sweat production, however the purposed mechanism is that ones it’s applied to the underarms the antiperspirant will diffuse down the sweat duct and precipitate after contact with sweat (4).

Is it harmful?

The product is approved safe by the American Food and Drug association (FDA), however since it is an aluminum based compound and kidneys play a vital role in its elimination from our body. If one has a kidney disorder or disease they are warned to consult with their physician before using a product containing the Aluminum Chloride (3).

Alternatives

US Food and Drug Association recognizes Aluminum Salts as the only safe ingredient that will prevent underarm wetness.  Some other Aluminum salts used are aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate(s), and aluminum zirconium salts.  Some other alternatives include homemade deodorants however those are only good at preventing the odor and not the production of sweat.

Finally, Aluminum Chloride is aluminum based salt and used greatly in many of the antiperspirants. It is approved by the FDA, and none of the studies done suggest that it could be harmful to our body (3). 

References

1) Baskind, C. (n.d.). Make the switch to a natural deodorant. Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/make-the-switch-to-a-natural-deodorant

2) Clark, J. (2008). Functions of Deodorant and Antiperspirant - HowStuffWorks. Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/underarm-care/tips/deodorant-antiperspirant1.htm

3) Tom's of Maine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ingredients/overlay/aluminum-chlorohydrate

Imidacloprid

Imidacloprid

                        Imidacloprid is a chemical that is found in a dog’s flea and tick medication and is found in the product Advantix K-9. The chemical itself fits into receptors meant to receive acetylcholine in the flea’s nervous system and blocks their acetylcholine receptors (2). Acetylcholine carries nerve responses from one nerve call to another. When the acetylcholine accumulates it causes the flea to become paralyzed and eventually die (2). Advantix is applied along your dogs back in small drops as it is very oily and you want to put it in places where your dog cannot lick it. Once you apply the full tube of 100ml along your dog’s back and neck, put a cone on your dog (to prevent licking) to allow the oily substance to absorb into the dogs skin. The active chemical imidacloprid should not bother your dog through skin absorption (2). If you are concerned about it apply some in a little spot on your dogs back and see if any sort of skin reaction occurs. Do not take your dog swimming or bath them for 24 hours after the application, the product needs to settle in. Once the 24 hours are up your dog is protected against fleas and ticks for 3-4 months (2). If your dog does have fleas when you apply this it will stop the fleas from biting in 3-5 minutes, within 12 hours 98-100% will be dead (2)!

                        Imidacloprid has a similar function as nicotine found in cigarettes; it comes from the same chemical family (1). You can find this chemical worldwide in insecticides. It is safe to use on your dog because imidacloprid is only truly harmful to the flea because of physiological differences. Applied topically Advantix it will not harm your dog but will kill the flea (2). If your dog does ingest this product it may experience some vomiting but will pass with in 24 hours, imidacloprid is not lethal is the amount of the dosage you will be applying (3). Be careful when choosing a flea and tick medication for your cat, if the product says for dogs only, it’s for dogs only. Cats physiologically are different from your dog and if imidacloprid is mixed with a product called permethrin it could seriously harm your cat, which is why the product will be labeled for dogs only (2).

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References:

1)   Blagburn, D., & Dryden, D. (2009). Biology, Treatment, and Control of Flea and Tick                                Infestations. Vet Clinic Small Animal, 39, 1173-1200.

2) Imidacloprid. (n.d.). Bayer Advocate/Crop science. International Animal Health. Retrieved                              October 10, 2014, from                   

                               http://www. crop science.bayer.ca/~/media/Bayer%20CropScience/Country-Canada-Internet/

3) Imidacloprid General Fact Sheet. (2010) Oregon State University. Retrieved October 10,                                 2014, from                                     

                               http://npic. orst.edu/factsheets/smidgen.html#howwork

Glycerin: Is it good for you?

Image source: Hajvaria Cheema Glycerin. Taken December 7th, 2014


Many products we use on a daily basis have Glycerin in them. Glycerin is a neutral, sweet tasting, colorless thick liquid found in products labelled as "moisturizing", "hydrating", or "replenishing". It has a high boiling point and a neutral pH (2) . Glycerin can be dissolved in water and alcohol (1). It is a hygroscopic substance, meaning it absorbs water from the air, so it basically never stops working (3).

Glycerin is mostly found in cosmetic products such as soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, creams and face packs. It is a safe substance which is purely natural, therefore it does not have any serious side effects (3). Glycerin is also found in many baby products because of its safe nature to anyone using it. It allows the baby's skin to stay nice and soft and prevents it from drying (3).

As I said earlier glycerin does not have any serious side effects, however if its applied to the skin for longer than 48 hours (1), it could cause slight irritation to the skin. If one swallows a product containing glycerine, it could cause nausea and vomiting (1), as there are many other substances mixed in the product not only glycerine. If it is dropped in the eye accidentally, it could cause a burning sensation and tearing up (1).

It is really hard to avoid glycerin, as it is the main ingredient found in most of the moisturizers. However, if someone is scared of the minor effects caused by using glycerin products, oils and butters are a great alternative for them. 

(1) U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~G5Kn6S:3
(2) Substance Name: Glycerin [USP:JAN]RN: 56-81-5InChIKey: PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://chem2.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/56-81-5
(3) What is Glycerin used for? (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from http://www.innovateus.net/innopedia/what-glycerin-used
(4) Morrison, C. (2013, April 13). The Global Supply Chain: Risky Business for Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Retrieved December 3, 2014.

CD:Cyclodextrin

Ever wonder how your deodorants stop you from smelling like you ran three miles in the hot sun? It may because your product contains cyclodextrin. This chemical compound is known for its odour absorbing properties (1, 2), and may be why you can have a full period of gym class and still be smelling like you got out of the shower afterwards. Old Spice, Gillette, and Secret (3, 4, 5) are examples of brands that contain this compound. Cyclodextrin works well in a product like deodorant or antiperspirant because it exists as a solid white powder (6, 7), so it is easily integrated with other ingredients to from the solid stick that is typical for this kind of product.

Deodorants are not the only type of odour reducing product that contain cyclodextrins, some air fresheners do as well (5). The way that these two different products act is similar. Cyclodextrin is a cyclic molecule – that is, it looks like a doughnut. When either of these products are applied, odour-causing particles become trapped in the “doughnut hole” of the cyclodextrin molecule, negating the effects of the odour-causing molecule (8, 9). Many products will also contain additional fragrance to replace the undesirable odours as well.

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But where does cyclodextrin come from? While this compound is synthesized in a laboratory setting, cyclodextrin is naturally derived from vegetables containing amylose, such as potatoes. The amylose is then exposed to a set of enzymes that convert it into the circular compound (1, 2).

Odour absorbing is not the only thing that cyclodextrin can do; it may also be used as a dietary fibre additive to help people lose weight because it can bind to nine times its weight in fat molecules, instead of the fat being absorbed during the digestion process (1, 10). It is also being investigated as a way for moving drugs into the body by placing pharmaceuticals inside the compound, in the same hole in the ring that an odour-causing particle would enter (11).

So check your products, are you using cyclodextrin? A chemical that may sound advanced, but is virtually harmless when used in our everyday lives at moderate levels (7).

References

(1) Alpha-Cyclodextrin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Cyclodextrin (accessed October 29, 2014).

(2) Cyclodextrins. In Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry[Online]; Wiley & Sons, Posted January 15, 2013. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2206/doi/10.1002/14356007.e08_e02/full (accessed November 4, 2014).

(3) Fiji Antiperspirant. http://oldspice.com/en/content/fiji-antiperspirant (accessed December 6, 2014).

(4) Gillette Clinical Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Fresh. http://www.drugstore.com/gillette-clinical-antiperspirant-and-deodorant-fresh/qxp172220 (accessed December 6, 2014).

(5) U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Cyclodextrin, n.d. Household Products Database. http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/search?queryx=12619-70-4&tbl=TblChemicals&prodcat=all (accessed October 30, 2014).

(6) AlphaCyclodextrin, 2013. DrugBank. http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01909 (accessed November 1, 2014).

(7) α-cyclodextrin; MSDS No. C4642 [Online]; Sigma-Aldrich: St. Louis, MO, July 11, 2014. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MSDS/DisplayMSDSPage.do?country=CA&language=en&productNumber=C4642&brand=SIGMA&PageToGoToURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sigmaaldrich.com%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fsigma%2Fc4642%3Flang%3Den (accessed November 3, 2014).

(8) Cyclodextrin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclodextrin (accessed October 31, 2014).

(9) Frequently Asked Questions. http://media.gillette.com/deodorant/en-GB/faq.shtml (accessed December 6, 2014).

(10) Comerford, K.B., Artiss, J.D., Catherine Jen, K. L., & Karakas, S.E. The beneficial effects of a-cyclodextrin on blood lipids and weight loss in healthy humans. Obesity 2011, 19, 1200-1204. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2206/doi/10.1038/oby.2010.280/full (accessed October 24, 2014).

(11)  Bader, R. A.; Putnam, D. A. Engineering Polymer Systems for Improved Drug Delivery [Online]; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ, 2014; p 413. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2052/lib/mtroyal/reader.action?docID=10829818 (accessed November 4, 2014).

(12) Cyclodextrin. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclodextrin.svg (accessed October 31, 2014).

Aspirin: Your New Best Friend

Among the many medications in your drug cabinet, there is a high chance that aspirin may be one of them. And why wouldn't it be? Aspirin is good for treating fever, pain, inflammation, arthritis, muscle pain, cold, and a whole plethora of other ailments, including heart problems and acne (3).

(8) Aspirin pill.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, every 7 minutes, someone in Canada dies from heart disease or stroke (4). That is a lot of people dying from heart problems! Aspirin helps fight against heart disease because it works as an anticoagulant in the blood (5). When blood coagulates, this means that the blood is forming clots to stop flowing (this is useful when your body is trying to stop bleeding, for example). So an anticoagulant is something that will stop your blood from forming clots of becoming too thick. Less clots means that there is less chance of having a heart attack or stroke!

In fact, Aspirin is so effective at reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke that many doctors will prescribe “an-aspirin-a-day” to patients with heart disease.

Like all medicine, however, Aspirin also has some side effects. Long-term use of Aspirin can result in stomach ulcers (2). This is because another effect of Aspirin is to reduce the stomach’s protection against the stomach acid (5). Aspirin reduces secretion of protective mucous and bicarbonate (acid neutralizer).

Aspirin has also been used to make facemasks that help treat acne (6). According to commentators on Acne.org, the Aspirin facemasks have mostly been successful in reducing the blemish size and reducing the redness of the blemish (1). However, the science behind Aspirin’s ability to treat acne is unclear.

 (7) Before and after the use of aspirin facemask.

As a medicine, Aspirin is relatively safe for most people and will probably be used for many years yet.

References

1. Acne.org, 2014. Aspirin Mask Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.acne.org/aspirin-mask-reviews-75/
2. Drugs.com, 2014. Aspirin. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/aspirin.html
3. C-Health, 2014. Drug Factsheets: Aspirin. Retrieved from http://chealth.canoe.ca/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=1325
4. Heart & Stroke Foundation, 2014. Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3483991/k.34A8/Statistics.htm
5. Plane, Frances, November 26, 2011. Classic Examples of Drug Discovery II. Pharmacology 201. Lecture conducted from University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
6. Whitelocks, Sadie, October 7, 2013. Aspirin as a face mask? How budget painkillers can be used as a DIY cure for blemishes and scaly skin. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2448598/Aspirin-face-mask-How-pain-killers-used-DIY-cure-blemishes.html
7. http://www.iapetus.eu/images/acne-oily-face-10528.jpg
8. http://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/aspirin_preeclampsia.jpg

Triclosan: Beneficial or Problematic?

Triclosan is a chemical known for its anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties (1). Triclosan was first introduced in 1972 as a surgical scrub and is now used in a range of products (2). It can be found in anti-bacterial wipes and soaps, cutting boards, toothpastes, and acne medications! It's also used to preserve makeup. There are even companies that place it in clothing to remove unpleasant odours caused by bacteria (1).

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How does it work though? Triclosan enters the cell and prevents an enzyme called enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR) from synthesizing fatty acids. ENR is responsible for cell membrane construction and reproduction in many unicellular organisms. These actions must be carried out or the microorganism will die. Interestingly, triclosan even has the power to kill the protozoan parasite that causes malaria (3). Some scientists believe that triclosan removes bacterial competition and may develop “superbugs” with antibiotic-resistance and higher growth rates (2).

Although triclosan has been FDA approved since the 1970s, there is still controversy to whether this chemical is safe to use. Triclosan may trigger a photoallergic reaction in humans when exposed to sunlight and leave a severe rash (2). As well, triclosan’s response to UV light or chlorinated water can form carcinogenic chloroform and dioxins. Internal-wise, the chemical’s lipophilic properties allow it to store in our fat cells (5). Concentrated blood levels have been associated with hormone disruption and reduced brain and spinal cord function (2). Why? Some scientists believe that it inhibits the activity of an enzyme responsible for regulating hormones and brain tissue development (5).

Our irreplaceable environment continues to be heavily impacted by humans. Most triclosan-carrying products are washed down the drains by consumers. Unfortunately, this chemical cannot be completely extracted by wastewater treatment plants and eventually resides on the floors of rivers and lakes. In addition to this, triclosan has a bad reputation for causing mischief in our bodies of water. It is highly toxic to phytoplankton and certain kinds of algae, and has been found to cause hind limb deformities during tadpole development. Like in humans, it can disrupt thyroid function and bioaccumulate in the fatty tissue of aquatic life (5).

So what can we do? For starters, we could avoid anti-bacterial soaps. Studies have shown that using plain, regular soap is just as effective as using anti-bacterial washes, regarding that you scrub your hands for the recommended length (~20 seconds) (5). Essential oils, like Australian tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and pine oil, have antimicrobial properties as well (6). In 2014, some cosmetic companies, such as Avon, have removed triclosan and other toxic chemicals from their products. With this progress already in effect, perhaps we will see less of triclosan in other products later on.

References:

(1) Triclosan and Antibiotics resistance, 2011. GreenFacts. http://copublications.greenfacts.org/en/triclosan/ (accessed Nov 16, 2014).

(2) Herring, P. Washing Our Hands Of Toxic Triclosan, (n.y.). Mountain Green. http://mountaingreen.biz/triclosan-article.aspx (accessed Nov 16, 2014).

(3) Triclosan. In Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds; Schlager N., Weisblatt, J., Newton, D. E., Eds. UXL: Detroit, MI, 2006; Vol. 3, pp 863-866.

(4) Superbug - Cartoon view, 2013. Hosuronline. http://hosuronline.com/index.php/superbugs-could-erase-a-century-of-medical-advances/superbug/ (accessed Nov 6, 2014). Used with permission.

(5) Environmental Defence. The Trouble with Triclosan: How a Pervasive Antibacterial Chemical Is Polluting Our World and Our Bodies [Online]; Environmental Defence: Toronto, ON, 2012; pp 1-29. http://library.mtroyal.ca:2052/lib/mtroyal/reader.action?docID=10586061 (accessed Nov 16, 2014).

(6) Glaser, A. The Ubiquitous Triclosan, 2004. BeyondPesticides. http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/Triclosan%20cited.pdf (accessed Nov 16, 2014).

Introducing EDTA, The Bully Who is Really A Hero!

EDTA- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

The story of this chemical takes place back in 1935 when a man named Ferdinand Munz first synthesized it (1). EDTA, abbreviated for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, comes in many forms whether that is liquid or a power. Commonly it EDTA is a colourless or white which makes it indistinguishable from many other chemical compounds. However, what makes EDTA stand out above the rest is its strong bullying power!

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           This is what makes EDTA super cool. EDTA is a is a bully in a sense and what EDTA will do, is when it is placed in or around a chemical that contains metals, like calcium or magnesium or even lead, EDTA will grab hold of these metals and makes them powerless. EDTA can do this by being a hexadentate which  is commonly known as a ligand and chelating agent for its special bullying power. What a hexadentate means is six options for an atom to bind to the EDTA structure. (1)

         Since EDTA is such an awesome bully it is commonly found everywhere and you yourself have come into contact with it before. EDTA is in alcoholic beverages, salad dressings, make-up, shampoo and many other hair products (8). If you have ever wondered why salad dressing lasts so long is because EDTA will actually help with a longer shelf life so you don’t have to buy a new salad dressing each week like you would milk or bread.

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         Being in contact with EDTA doesn’t mean much as the amount of EDTA that would actually cause affects is pretty low as 28.5-30 mg per kg of weight (2). That’s a lot considering that salad dressing only has about a 100ppm concentration (8).When coming into contact with the lethal dose of 28.5 mg/kg one can experience skin irritations, allergic reactions, asthma attacks and even kidney failure (3).  These are the worse cases and some may even not experience anything from exposure. Its best to keep in mind that EDTA is everywhere and is even used for medical practices. A cool fact is that when some one has lead poisoning the hospital will inject EDTA into the patient and EDTA will work it bullying magic and stop the evil lead for poisoning!

So be safe and share the knowledge!





References: 

1.Contributors, W. (2014, 10 29). Ethlenediaminetetraacetic acid. Retrieved 11 11, 2014, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylenediaminetetraacetic_acid#Alternatives_to_EDTA

2.CSID:5826. (n.d.). Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Retrieved 11 11, 2014, from ChemSpider: http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.5826.html?rid=7cd36308-2185-44c0-a265-9406d266c4e3

3.D, K. D. (1999). Should We Risk It. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
4. n.a (2014). Keep Calm and Posters. Retrieved December 07,2014 from http://www.keepcalmandposters.com/posters/1312339.png

5.Lichtfouse. E, S. J. (2005). Environmental Chemistry. Berlin: Springer.

6.M, S. (1997). Environmental Fate or EDTA and DTPA. Retrieved 11 10, 2014, from PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9297986

7.n.a. (n.d). EDTA. Retrieved 11 10, 2014, from ChemBook: http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductChemicalPropertiesCB81098918_EN.htm

8.n.a. (2001). Find a Vitamin or Supplement-EDTA. Retrieved 11 10, 2014, from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1032-EDTA.aspx?activeIngredientId=1032&activeIngredientName=EDTA&source=1

9.Rosel, K. (2014, 06 23). Harmful Food Additives in salad dressing. Retrieved 11 11, 2014, from Naturally Savvy: http://naturallysavvy.com/eat/harmful-food-additives-in-salad-dressing