Tom's of Maine Natural Cleansing Mouthwash Spearmint || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

TOM'S OF MAINE NATURAL CLEANSING MOUTHWASH SPEARMINT

last updated: 08/15/07 brand: Tom's of Maine by Colgate-Palmolive Company

SCORE

low hazard (out of 10)

74%

data gap

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6% of toothpastes have lower concerns

COMPANY POLICIES

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-compliant: This company has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and made progress toward compliance, but has not met all requirements: they have not yet fully listed all ingredients on product labels.

Animal Testing Policy
This company does not test on animals.

Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.

Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards

Ingredients from packaging: Water; Glycerin; Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) Water; Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel; Poloxamer 335; Spearmint (Mentha Viridis) Leaf Oil; Menthol; Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

user reviews & comments

anonymous 8272

"Minty strong. ..."

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
POLOXAMER 335	2	82%	Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
MENTHOL	3	85%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources
GLYCERIN	2	74%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)	1	91%	none identified
MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL SPEARMINT (MENTHA VIRIDIS) LEAF OIL	1	88%	Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL ALOE VERA (ALOE BARBADENSIS) GEL	1	72%	none identified
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) WATER	0	100%	none identified
WATER	0	0%	innocuous

Cancer*

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high doses		GLYCERIN
One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results		MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		MENTHOL

Developmental/reproductive toxicity*

*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses		GLYCERIN,
One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL

Violations, restrictions & warnings*

*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL

Neurotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses		GLYCERIN, MENTHOL, POLOXAMER 335

Endocrine disruption*

*This table includes all possible endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses		GLYCERIN

Persistence and bioaccumulation*

*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans		POLOXAMER 335

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*

*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)	products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips	MENTHOL
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL
One or more animal studies show blood effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		GLYCERIN, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, POLOXAMER 335

Multiple, additive exposure sources*

*This table includes all possible multiple, additive exposure sources concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food		POLOXAMER 335, MENTHOL
Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available		MENTHOL
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food		GLYCERIN, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)

Ecotoxicology*

*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Suspected to be an environmental toxin		POLOXAMER 335

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*

*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at high doses		GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		MENTHOL, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL

Data gaps*

*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review		POLOXAMER 335
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		POLOXAMER 335
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) GEL
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		POLOXAMER 335, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		MENTHOL, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, GLYCERIN, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) WATER

Occupational hazards*

*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses		GLYCERIN

Biochemical or cellular level changes*

*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		GLYCERIN