| Score |  Data: Fair |
| Health Concern | HIGH |
| Product Type | personal cleansing |
| Made by | Massengill by GlaxoSmithKline |
| Data last updated | February 2008 |
| how to read the score | |
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company policies | |
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| Compact for Safe Cosmetics | Non-signer |
| Animal Testing Policy | UNKNOWN: As of EWG's last review, this company is not certified by PETA or Leaping Bunny as not testing on animals. |
Label Information | |
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| Ingredients from packaging: | Contains: Purified Water, SD Alcohol 40, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Methylparaben/Sodium Ethylparaben/Sodium Propylparaben, Sodium Citrate, Edetate Disodium, Fragrance, FD&C Blue 1. |
| Directions from packaging: | Use while sitting on the toilet or standing in the shower. Do not use lying down. Hold bottle upright and twist off flat tab at top. Remove nozzle from wrapper and screw nozzle onto bottle until firmly attached. Do not overtighten. Gently insert the nozzle about three inches into your vagina. Never force the nozzle. Squeeze bottle gently, letting the solution rinse the vagina and flow freely from the body. Avoid closing the vagina. After douching, throw away bottle and nozzle. Massengill disposable douche may be used as long as the bottle remains unopened and the liquid is clear. Do not freeze. |
| Warnings from packaging: | Douching is not medically necessary. Douching does not prevent pregnancy and does not prevent or treat sexually transmitted diseases (STD), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or other genital infection. An association has been reported between douching and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (EP), tubal infertility, chlamydia, and bacterial vaginosis (BV). These conditions require immediate medical attention. Do not use this product: If you are experiencing any vaginal condition, such as discharge, burning, itching, pain, discomfort or any of the symptoms listed on the package insert. For self-treatment of any unusual vaginal symptoms. If you think you have a STD, PID, or any other genital infection. During your period, or if you have vaginal bleeding or spotting. During pregnancy or if you think you might be pregnant of if you are trying to become pregnant. More than twice a week. If you develop vaginal dryness or irritation after using this product. 3 days before going to your doctor for a pelvic exam or before a Pap smear. Additional Warnings: If you do not use a barrier method contraceptive (e.g. condom), or if you have multiple sexual partners, have previously been diagnosed with a STD, or have let a STD go untreated, you are at risk for PID. If you suspect that you have PID or any of the infections or conditions described on the package insert, or if you notice any unusual vaginal conditions such as burning, itching, or pain, stop using this product and see your doctor immediately. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help right away. |
Where to purchase | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shop with EWG on Amazon.com | Amazon.com product page | |
ingredients |
concerns | score |
|---|---|---|
| FRAGRANCE | Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous | Data: Fair |
| POLYSORBATE-80 | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE) |  Data: Fair |
| METHYLPARABEN | Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes |  Data: Fair |
| PROPYLPARABEN | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology | Data: Fair |
| ETHYLPARABEN | Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity |  Data: Fair |
| PHENOXYETHANOL | Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions | Data: Limited |
| SD ALCOHOL 40 | Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Multiple, additive exposure sources, Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (BRUCINE, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, BRUCINE SULFATE, QUASSIN) | Data: Limited |
| FD&C BLUE 1 | Cancer, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |  Data: Fair |
| CITRIC ACID | Use restrictions | Data: Good |
| DISODIUM EDTA EDETATE DISODIUM | Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Enhanced skin absorption |  Data: Fair |
| SODIUM CITRATE | None Identified |  Data: Fair |
| WATER | Innocuous | Data: Robust |
Cancer**Listed below are cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | FD&C BLUE 1 | |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity**Listed below are developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more animal studies show developmental effects at high doses | DISODIUM EDTA | |
| One or more animal studies show any effects at low doses | PROPYLPARABEN | |
Neurotoxicity**Listed below are neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity | FRAGRANCE | |
Endocrine disruption**Listed below are endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | METHYLPARABEN | |
| One or more studies show significant wildlife and the environment disruption | PROPYLPARABEN | |
| Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidence | ETHYLPARABEN | |
Allergies/immunotoxicity**Listed below are allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| One or more human case studies show possible immune effects | PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN | |
| Human skin toxicant - strong evidence | ETHYLPARABEN | |
| Known human immune system toxicant | FRAGRANCE | |
Persistence and bioaccumulation**Listed below are persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | WATER, PROPYLPARABEN, FD&C BLUE 1, DISODIUM EDTA | |
| Not suspected to be persistent | SODIUM CITRATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, CITRIC ACID | |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)**Listed below are organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Classified as a low human health priority | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | WATER, SODIUM CITRATE, POLYSORBATE-80, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID | |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | FD&C BLUE 1 | |
| Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity | PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, SD ALCOHOL 40 | |
Miscellaneous**Listed below are miscellaneous concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Occupational hazards related to handling | SD ALCOHOL 40 | |
| Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown | FRAGRANCE | |
Multiple, additive exposure sources**Listed below are multiple, additive exposure sources concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | SODIUM CITRATE, PROPYLPARABEN, POLYSORBATE-80, METHYLPARABEN, FD&C BLUE 1, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID | |
| Used in food or as an additive with limited or no toxicity information available | SD ALCOHOL 40 | |
Ecotoxicology**Listed below are ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | WATER, SODIUM CITRATE, PROPYLPARABEN, POLYSORBATE-80, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, FD&C BLUE 1, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID | |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)**Listed below are irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Classified as irritant | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
Data gaps**Listed below are data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Insufficient data to determine safety | SD ALCOHOL 40 | |
| 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 | PROPYLPARABEN, POLYSORBATE-80, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA | |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | CITRIC ACID, FRAGRANCE, SODIUM CITRATE | |
Occupational hazards**Listed below are occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | PHENOXYETHANOL | |
Biochemical or cellular level changes**Listed below are biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Interferes with gene expresion | METHYLPARABEN | |
Use restrictions**Listed below are use restrictions concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer, drawn from Skin Deep data sources. Some concerns may be specific to how a product is used or formulated; product scores reflect those variances. |
||
|---|---|---|
| type of concern | product conditions | ingredient(s) |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in cosmetics (concentration limit) | PHENOXYETHANOL, CITRIC ACID | |
