Carcinogens Case
One reason for the lack of public awareness is because both SLS and DEA are not recognised carcinogens; their respective by-products, 1,4 dioxane and NDEA are. As a result, these carcinogens are not listed as part of the ingredients at the back of shampoo bottles, making it impossible for any regular consumer to know of it just by reading the labels. Furthermore, short of doing laboratory tests, it is also improbable that an discerning consumer would learn of its presence.
Another reason comes from the fact that people have the tendency to place their trust in authorities and hence do not question issues like whether their shampoo is safe for usage. A study published by Cambridge University Press tries to explain this phenomenon by considering that society is functioning at too complex, and interdependent a level for any individual to grasp fully (Warren, 1999). In order to operate within this complex interdependency, people have to extend their trust to strangers, especially authorities. By trusting that the authorities will act in the interest of the people, individuals can take for granted the relationships which they depend on (Warren, 1999), hence relieving their minds to concentrate on more immediate issues.
One reason for the lack of public awareness is because both SLS and DEA are not recognised carcinogens; their respective by-products, 1,4 dioxane and NDEA are. As a result, these carcinogens are not listed as part of the ingredients at the back of shampoo bottles, making it impossible for any regular consumer to know of it just by reading the labels. Furthermore, short of doing laboratory tests, it is also improbable that an discerning consumer would learn of its presence.
Another reason comes from the fact that people have the tendency to place their trust in authorities and hence do not question issues like whether their shampoo is safe for usage. A study published by Cambridge University Press tries to explain this phenomenon