Are Silicone Products Toxic?

Silicone can be a wonderful non-toxic plastic alternative! However, some silicones are not always safe. Continue reading to learn more about the best silicones to use.

Breaking free of plastic chemicals can improve your health. However, you don’t want to swap out plastic chemicals.

Improve your wellness by using silicone kitchen and personal products. Just make sure you’re educated on the best types of silicone for a healthy lifestyle. Here’s everything you know about silicone’s toxicity! 

So, Is Silicone Toxic or No?

Like some past Facebook statuses, our relationship with silicone products is complicated!

These chemicals are hard to break down. This stability makes most silicones non-toxic [1].

Liquid silicone, however, shouldn’t be ingested. If your silicone spatula falls apart while stirring, it’s time to toss it from the kitchen to the garbage. 

Silicones give lotions and lubricants the luxurious gliding effect we love about our personal products. 

These creamy moisturizing agents are denoted by a letter and a number, such as D4, D5, etc.

While they’re microscopic, silicone chemicals leave a big impression.

One study found detectable levels of silicones D4, D5, D6, and D7 in [2]:

  • Hair-care products

  • Skin lotions

  • Cosmetics

Limit your exposure to these chemicals, as The European Chemicals Agency determined that these types of silicone are toxic [3]. Clean up your beauty routine by using Million Marker’s Approved Products

Why Is Some Silicone Non-Toxic?

Silicone means well! Toxic impurities are the result of silicone production [4].

Purify your silicone use by using “platinum cured” or “platinum grade” silicone [5].

Silicone impurities can also be intentionally added [6]. These can be found in silicone rubber. They are also added to personal care products to create silk and shine [7].

Additions to silicone can be toxic, including:

  • Residual catalysts from silicone production [8]

  • Additives like phthalates [9]

  • Breakdown products

Lower quality silicone bakeware can contain these chemicals. These items may discolor over time or create an odor while cooking which may indicate toxicity in the silicone. 

Clean Up Your Kitchen Routine with Non-Toxic Silicone 

Want to easily avoid these lower-quality silicones? To check, pinch and twist a small part of the silicone rubber.

If the twisted part shows white color, the silicone may be toxic. Pure silicone does not change color.

Any food-contact substance, including silicone kitchenware, must adhere to FDA guidelines. These guidelines permit the use of silicone polymers in kitchenware.

Unfortunately, harmful additives like phthalates are considered safe under these guidelines. 

Eliminate toxic exposures from your kitchen and beauty products. Discover whether phthalates and other chemicals in your body might be disrupting your hormones.

Activate a healthier you with Million Marker’s Test Kit + Toxic-Free Lifestyle Audit. This body toxicity test uses your data to provide unique health insights and non-toxic product recommendations. 

You can also check out our list of Approved Products to find personal care and household items that are free of toxic silicones.

 

Sources

[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/is-silicone-toxic#exposure 

[2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00244-008-9172-z

[3] https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/regulatory/region/europe/EU-Effectively-Bans-D4-and-D5-in-Wash-Off-Products-474982233.html    

[4] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2012.694374 

[5] https://www.tblplastics.com/platinum-vs-peroxide-silicone-tubing/ 

[6]https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/So_you_cant_use_D4_or_D5_silicones_What_are_the_alternatives/146953  

[7] https://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-looks/beauty/the-truth-about-silicones/  

[8] https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/dining/10sili.html#

[9] https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e956d645a8b4e6b3e34e4e5d1b690209&mc=true&node=pt21.3.177&rgn=div5