Children who use hygiene products such as skin and hair care products show higher levels of endocrine disrupting phthalates in their bodies, according to a US study.
The study, conducted by researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina and George Mason University in the US, among others, examined over 600 urine samples from children aged four to eight for levels of phthalates in their bodies. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that can alter hormone production and are also linked to immune system disorders, impaired reproduction and metabolic diseases. They are also considered developmental toxins that affect children’s behavior and learning abilities. Phthalates are used, among other things, as plasticizers in plastics.
The results, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, showed that children who use personal care products such as sunscreen, lotion, soap and hair care products have higher levels of the toxins in their bodies. In particular, the use of skin creams, sunscreens and oils was associated with the high levels. Professor Michael Bloom, a researcher at George Mason University and lead author of the study, calls the results “concerning”.
– The results show that the use of skincare products on children are sources of exposure to these chemicals, Bloom said. What also definitely raises concern is that these products tend to be used frequently and over long periods of time.
Higher levels in boys
Boys generally had higher levels of the substances, with the very highest levels found in black and Hispanic children. The varying levels among different ethnic groups may be related to socio-economic factors, Bloom says. For example, he points out that cheaper products generally contain higher levels of phthalates than more expensive counterparts.
Children are more vulnerable to phthalates because they have more skin surface area relative to their body weight, and their metabolic systems are not fully developed to process the compounds. Furthermore, Bloom points out that although the body of an adult can eliminate these chemicals, some are exposed to such high levels that the constant exposure poses a health risk.
– The habits that predispose us to exposure to these chemicals, like use of lotion, tend to be routine, so we often end up with a scenario in which by the time we eliminate one dose … we’re putting on lotion the next morning, and this state of pseudo persistence can emerge, he says.
