Children who use lotions have higher levels of hormone-disrupting toxins – study
Children who use more personal care products, such as sunscreen, lotion, soap and hair care products, have higher levels of toxic phthalates in their bodies, new research findsand the highest levels were found in black and Hispanic children.
The study tested more than 600 urine samples from four- to eight-year-olds for phthalates, which are highly toxic hormone disruptors that can alter hormone production and have been linked to reproductive, immune and metabolic disorders. They are also considered developmental toxins that affect children’s behavior and learning.
The study’s findings are “concerning,” said Michael Bloom, a researcher at George Mason University and lead author of the study.
“The results show that the use of skin care products in children is a source of exposure to these chemicals,” Bloom said. “What is also certainly concerning is that these products are used frequently and for long periods of time.”
Phthalates are widely used plasticizers in plastic packaging in the economy, and many companies also add them as ingredients to personal care products to stabilize them or to carry fragrances. Phthalates can migrate from plastic packaging into personal care products, and recent testing has also shown them to contaminate food and medicine on a large scale.
Children are especially vulnerable to absorbing phthalates because they have a small amount of skin surface area relative to their body weight, and their metabolic systems may not be fully developed to handle the compounds. Still, little research has been done on children’s exposure to the chemicals in personal care products, Bloom said.
Although the body quickly eliminates the chemicals, people are exposed to such high concentrations through so many different routes that the constant exposure poses a health risk.
“The habits that predispose us to exposure to these chemicals, like using lotion, are often routine, so we often end up with a scenario where by the time we’ve removed one dose, we’re already putting lotion on the next morning, and this state of pseudo-persistence can develop,” he said.
The use of lotions such as moisturizers or sunscreens, as well as oils, were associated with the highest levels in children. Those who reported using lotions in the previous 24 hours showed higher levels of the type of phthalate that migrates from plastic into products, while the use of hair oil was strongly associated with the type of phthalates that were intentionally added to products.
The study found that boys generally had higher levels than girls. The differences in levels between racial groups may be related to socioeconomic factors, brand preferences, accessibility, product application methods or frequency of use, Bloom said.
Cheaper products that you buy at a dollar store rather than a more expensive store are more likely to contain higher levels of phthalates. This is because the product has likely been in a plastic tube for a longer period of time and may have been exposed to higher temperatures. These two factors cause the chemicals to migrate more quickly.
Products labeled “phthalate-free” tend to be more expensive, but that only means the chemicals weren’t intentionally added to the product. Phthalates from packaging can still migrate into “phthalate-free” products, and the study found no difference in the levels of the chemical in the urine of those who used “phthalate-free” products compared to those who didn’t.
There is little regulation around the chemicals. The Food and Drug Administration allows a limited number of phthalates to be added to personal care products, but there is no control or limit on the amount of the chemical that can be in the product.
That makes it nearly impossible for consumers to consciously avoid the chemicals. Bloom noted that the European Union has restrictions on many types of phthalates in personal care products, so it’s possible to create effective products that aren’t contaminated with the chemicals.
The study, the authors wrote, should “promote discussions among policymakers who regulate the production and packaging of personal care products to eliminate disparities in exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals among children.”