Some health concerns - defined
Allergy
An allergic reaction is when your body’s immune system overreacts to substances in the environment – substances that are generally harmless for most people. These substances are known as allergens.
There are many different allergens. The main ones are dust mites, pollen, certain foods (e.g. peanuts, cow's milk, soy, seafood and eggs), furry or hairy animals, insect stings, moulds and medicines. Almost any substance, natural or man-made, has the potential to produce an allergic reaction in someone, somewhere.
Allergies affect roughly one in three Australians at some time in their lives. Symptoms range from mild swelling, watery eyes and sneezing to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Allergy is also one of the major factors associated with the cause and persistence of asthma.
Allergic reactions to ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products are rare. The use of very low levels of the most common allergens, coupled with the fact that many cosmetic and personal care products are rinsed off the skin, helps minimise such reactions. The most common allergic responses are localised skin reactions.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways are sensitive, narrowing when exposed to certain triggers. This makes breathing more difficult. Symptoms of asthma include recurrent wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Severe asthma attacks can lead to hospitalisation.
Over 2 million Australians have asthma – about 1 in 10 adults and about 1 in 9 or 10 children.[1]
Since 2001, the prevalence of asthma has declined in children and young adults but remained stable in adults aged 35 years and over.[2]
Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled reproduction of cells in the body. This is caused by damage to a cell’s DNA. Normally when DNA damage occurs, the cell will either repair the DNA or the cell will die. However cancer forms when the DNA is not repaired and, rather than dying like normal cells, these abnormal cells grow out of control.
Cancer can result in the formation of a localised tumour, or can involve the bloodstream or lymphatic system from where cancer cells can reach and invade other body tissues.
Agents that can cause cancer are called carcinogens. These include chemical agents and radiation (e.g. UV light, radioactive substances).
Other risk factors for cancer include genetic susceptibility and female hormonal factors, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, diet and chronic infections. The risk of developing cancer increases with age.
It is not always possible to determine the cause of a particular case of cancer. Another term for agents that can cause DNA damage, and may result in cancer in the exposed individual, or effects in subsequent generations, is ‘mutagens’.
In Australia, the most common cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) are prostate cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer, melanoma of the skin and lung cancer.[3]
Endocrine disruption / Hormone disruption
The endocrine system is the system of glands responsible for releasing hormones into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, hormones act like chemical messengers, circulating in the blood until they reach their target organ.
Hormones regulate all of the body’s biological processes throughout life, including growth, development and metabolism. The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, as well as the female ovaries and male testes, are major components of the endocrine system.
Endocrine disruptors are substances that may interfere with the action of hormones. This can occur in various ways: by mimicking natural hormones, blocking the action of natural hormones, or directly stimulating or inhibiting the production of hormones.
The effects of disruption to the endocrine system will vary widely depending on the part of the endocrine system that is affected, and could result in a range of human health effects including lowered fertility, diabetes, or cancer.
Some drugs deliberately act as endocrine disruptors, such as the birth control pill. Other endocrine disruptors are found in our environment.
Irritation
Irritation is a broad term meaning a state of inflammation or painful reaction. Irritants can include chemical agents, mechanical stimuli, heat and radiation.
An allergic reaction can result in irritation, but an allergen is different from an irritant as an allergen causes a specific response of the immune system in specific individuals, whereas an irritant does not need to involve an immune response, and is less specific.
In terms of cosmetic and personal care products, irritation normally refers to the skin as this is the organ with which most products come into contact.
Cleaning products often contain instructions for use that minimise the chance of skin contact and irritation occurring.
Skin irritation can refer to a range of problems, including rashes, lesions and itchiness which can vary in severity and duration.
Sensitisation
Some people can develop an allergic reaction to a substance over time. This is called sensitisation – a particular type of allergy to a substance that develops only after there has been previous exposure to that substance.
A sensitiser is a substance that causes an allergic reaction only after previous exposure to that substance. After initial exposure, often only a low dose of the sensitiser may be required to trigger an allergic reaction.
Toxicity
Toxicity is the potential for a substance to produce a harmful effect on the body, or at a certain site within the body.
Toxic effects can be short-term (acute), for example food poisoning, or long-term (chronic), for example lung cancer.
All substances have the potential to cause toxic effects, it all depends on the dose and the route of exposure.
In order for a toxic effect to occur, the substance needs to come into contact with the body in such a way that a sufficiently high dose enters the body and reaches a site at which it can cause harm.
Toxicity also varies between species, i.e. a substance that is toxic to mice at a certain dose may have no adverse effect on humans. Toxicity also varies between organisms within a species.
Toxic substances, or toxicants, include chemical substances (both from natural and man-made origins), and biological substances such as bacteria and viruses. Toxic effects are sometimes related to the physical properties of a substance, for example asbestos which can be inhaled and lodge in the lungs.
Toxicants can be classified according to their effect on the body. Irritants, carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and sensitisers are all types of toxic substances. Systemic poisons are toxic substances that target a specific organ or organ system.
Sources
[1] www.nationalasthma.org.au/understanding-asthma/what-is-asthma-
[2] www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420159
[3] www.aihw.gov.au/cancer
An allergic reaction is when your body’s immune system overreacts to substances in the environment – substances that are generally harmless for most people. These substances are known as allergens.
There are many different allergens. The main ones are dust mites, pollen, certain foods (e.g. peanuts, cow's milk, soy, seafood and eggs), furry or hairy animals, insect stings, moulds and medicines. Almost any substance, natural or man-made, has the potential to produce an allergic reaction in someone, somewhere.
Allergies affect roughly one in three Australians at some time in their lives. Symptoms range from mild swelling, watery eyes and sneezing to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Allergy is also one of the major factors associated with the cause and persistence of asthma.
Allergic reactions to ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products are rare. The use of very low levels of the most common allergens, coupled with the fact that many cosmetic and personal care products are rinsed off the skin, helps minimise such reactions. The most common allergic responses are localised skin reactions.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways are sensitive, narrowing when exposed to certain triggers. This makes breathing more difficult. Symptoms of asthma include recurrent wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Severe asthma attacks can lead to hospitalisation.
Over 2 million Australians have asthma – about 1 in 10 adults and about 1 in 9 or 10 children.[1]
Since 2001, the prevalence of asthma has declined in children and young adults but remained stable in adults aged 35 years and over.[2]
Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled reproduction of cells in the body. This is caused by damage to a cell’s DNA. Normally when DNA damage occurs, the cell will either repair the DNA or the cell will die. However cancer forms when the DNA is not repaired and, rather than dying like normal cells, these abnormal cells grow out of control.
Cancer can result in the formation of a localised tumour, or can involve the bloodstream or lymphatic system from where cancer cells can reach and invade other body tissues.
Agents that can cause cancer are called carcinogens. These include chemical agents and radiation (e.g. UV light, radioactive substances).
Other risk factors for cancer include genetic susceptibility and female hormonal factors, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, diet and chronic infections. The risk of developing cancer increases with age.
It is not always possible to determine the cause of a particular case of cancer. Another term for agents that can cause DNA damage, and may result in cancer in the exposed individual, or effects in subsequent generations, is ‘mutagens’.
In Australia, the most common cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) are prostate cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer, melanoma of the skin and lung cancer.[3]
Endocrine disruption / Hormone disruption
The endocrine system is the system of glands responsible for releasing hormones into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, hormones act like chemical messengers, circulating in the blood until they reach their target organ.
Hormones regulate all of the body’s biological processes throughout life, including growth, development and metabolism. The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, as well as the female ovaries and male testes, are major components of the endocrine system.
Endocrine disruptors are substances that may interfere with the action of hormones. This can occur in various ways: by mimicking natural hormones, blocking the action of natural hormones, or directly stimulating or inhibiting the production of hormones.
The effects of disruption to the endocrine system will vary widely depending on the part of the endocrine system that is affected, and could result in a range of human health effects including lowered fertility, diabetes, or cancer.
Some drugs deliberately act as endocrine disruptors, such as the birth control pill. Other endocrine disruptors are found in our environment.
Irritation
Irritation is a broad term meaning a state of inflammation or painful reaction. Irritants can include chemical agents, mechanical stimuli, heat and radiation.
An allergic reaction can result in irritation, but an allergen is different from an irritant as an allergen causes a specific response of the immune system in specific individuals, whereas an irritant does not need to involve an immune response, and is less specific.
In terms of cosmetic and personal care products, irritation normally refers to the skin as this is the organ with which most products come into contact.
Cleaning products often contain instructions for use that minimise the chance of skin contact and irritation occurring.
Skin irritation can refer to a range of problems, including rashes, lesions and itchiness which can vary in severity and duration.
Sensitisation
Some people can develop an allergic reaction to a substance over time. This is called sensitisation – a particular type of allergy to a substance that develops only after there has been previous exposure to that substance.
A sensitiser is a substance that causes an allergic reaction only after previous exposure to that substance. After initial exposure, often only a low dose of the sensitiser may be required to trigger an allergic reaction.
Toxicity
Toxicity is the potential for a substance to produce a harmful effect on the body, or at a certain site within the body.
Toxic effects can be short-term (acute), for example food poisoning, or long-term (chronic), for example lung cancer.
All substances have the potential to cause toxic effects, it all depends on the dose and the route of exposure.
In order for a toxic effect to occur, the substance needs to come into contact with the body in such a way that a sufficiently high dose enters the body and reaches a site at which it can cause harm.
Toxicity also varies between species, i.e. a substance that is toxic to mice at a certain dose may have no adverse effect on humans. Toxicity also varies between organisms within a species.
Toxic substances, or toxicants, include chemical substances (both from natural and man-made origins), and biological substances such as bacteria and viruses. Toxic effects are sometimes related to the physical properties of a substance, for example asbestos which can be inhaled and lodge in the lungs.
Toxicants can be classified according to their effect on the body. Irritants, carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens and sensitisers are all types of toxic substances. Systemic poisons are toxic substances that target a specific organ or organ system.
Sources
[1] www.nationalasthma.org.au/understanding-asthma/what-is-asthma-
[2] www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420159
[3] www.aihw.gov.au/cancer
