London, Mar 15 : Popular bath products for kids contain cancer-causing chemicals, says a new study.

According to a research carried out in the United States, many of the top-selling brands contain formaldehyde, which is used to embalm corpses.

Out of the 28 products tested for formaldehyde in an independent laboratory, 23 contained it, reports Sky News.

Others had traces of 1,4-dioxane, a foaming agent which is also believed to be a cancer risk for humans. Of the 48 items tested for 1,4-dioxane, 67 percent contained it.

Apparently, both substances were found in Johnson''s Baby Shampoo, L''Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 shampoo and Pampers Kandoo foaming soap.

Stacy Malkan from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, who commissioned the tests, said: "If chemicals are causing cancer in animals, we really shouldn''t be putting them on babies'' heads."

The Personal Care Products Council, however, accused the group of preying on parents'' fears and described the results as "patently false". (ANI)