A recent study reveals a link between the use of personal care products—such as lotions, ointments, and hair conditioners—and increased levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals called phthalates in young children. The study also highlights that different racial and ethnic groups experience varying levels of exposure to these chemicals.
Phthalates, used to make plastics more flexible, are also found in some personal care products. These chemicals can interfere with hormones and potentially disrupt developmental processes in children. Previous research has connected phthalate exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to issues like impaired brain development and behavioral problems.
Concerns have been raised that phthalates might contribute to earlier onset of menstruation in girls. Although phthalates don’t remain in the body long-term, their cumulative effects are troubling.
Michael Bloom, a George Mason University professor specializing in endocrine-disrupting chemicals, notes that while the evidence is not yet conclusive, it is growing. Bloom’s study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed urine samples from 630 children aged 4 to 8. Parents reported the use of personal care products, revealing that recent use of these products was linked to higher phthalate levels.
Dr. Lynn Goldman, a pediatrician and epidemiologist, emphasized the significance of the study’s findings, which extend previous research on phthalates in infants and pregnant women to young children. She stresses that the focus on dietary exposure should shift to include personal care products.
The study also uncovered differences in phthalate exposure by race and ethnicity. Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander children had higher phthalate levels linked to hair oil use, while white children showed elevated levels from body lotion use. Black children had the highest overall phthalate levels. Other studies suggest that beauty products marketed to communities of color may contain higher levels of these chemicals.
Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlighted the importance of understanding exposure in vulnerable populations and the role of social media in promoting potentially harmful products. She advises using tools like the YUKA app or the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database to check product ingredients.
Goldman calls for greater regulatory scrutiny by the FDA and EPA, emphasizing that more research is needed to assess the cumulative impact of phthalate exposure on children and other sensitive groups.
