According to a recent study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, kid’s shampoos contain high levels of chemicals linked to cancer. The CSC tested 48 different name-brand kids' bath products for 1,4-dioxane; 28 of those items were also tested for formaldehyde.

The report showed 61 percent of 28 products tested contained both chemicals. Twenty-three out of 28 contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million. Among the 17 containing both cancer-causing chemicals were popular products such as L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 shampoo, Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Pampers Kandoo foaming hand soap.
The Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane as a probable carcinogen. The European Union bans the chemical from personal care products at any level and has recalled products that contain the chemical.

Formaldehyde is also classified as a possible human carcinogen. The chemical can trigger adverse kin reactions in children and adults who are sensitive to the chemical. Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden.
The two chemicals were also associated to cancers of the nasopharynx, nasal sinuses, brain and possibly leukemia, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

On the other hand, the Personal Care Products Council, a U.S. trade association for the cosmetic and personal care products industry said the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics was just “preying upon parental worries” and dismissed the findings as “patently false.”

Researchers concluded that the findings are cause for concern, since “children are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of chemicals.”