A top doctor has made a plea to stop using cologne and perfume due to ‘irrefutable evidence’ linking them to cancer and infertility.
Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said that while a quick spritz may seem harmless, even small amounts of these products can contain harmful “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS.
These substances will forever be labeled as chemicals because they do not break down in the body and cause untold damage.
She said the most concerning chemical in perfumes is phthalates, which are used to make the scent last longer.
Studies have shown that they imitate the body’s hormones and disrupt the production and response to natural hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
She pointed to a statement from the Endocrine Society, which said these studies show “irrefutable evidence” that endocrine-disrupting chemicals lead to a variety of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, infertility and several forms of cancer.
As evidence mounts, Dr. Pasricha recommended cutting out fragrances altogether, especially if you have young children who could develop problems later in life.
Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, warned against using personal care products with phthalates. Phthalates are synthetic chemicals intended to make plastic more durable and give shampoos a more flexible consistency. These can be found in personal care products and even some ultra-processed foods
Your browser does not support iframes.
In a column for the WashingtonPostDr. Pasricha pointed out a recent study of 200 adolescents JAMA network opened.
The report found that higher urinary phthalate concentrations in personal care products such as deodorant were associated with a 25 percent increased risk of hyperactivity problems.
And another study from the same group found that increased exposure to these chemicals was linked to poorer performance in math, especially among those under greater stress.
These concerns about children’s exposure have led to three forms of phthalates being banned in children’s products in the US. Britain has banned four species.
These chemicals have also been linked to fertility problems in both men and women.
One study in the journal Toxicological SciencesFor example, they found that female mice exposed in the womb to the same phthalate mixtures found in pregnant women were born with fertility problems, which they then passed on to their female offspring.
Additional research has found that higher levels of phthalates in women’s urine can reduce the chance of pregnancy and increase the risk of pregnancy loss before the 20th week of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, a Polish study showed that phthalate exposure in men reduced the quality of their semen and sperm count, reducing the chance of pregnancy.
Phthalates are also considered possible human carcinogens, meaning they may increase the risk of some cancers, especially those related to hormone production, such as thyroid and breast cancer.
A survey in the journal Breast cancer researchFor example, research found that higher levels of phthalates in urine were associated with an up to 32 percent increased risk of breast hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
To reduce your exposure to phthalates, Dr. Pasricha suggests opting for shampoos listed as “fragrance-free” or “phthalate-free,” as well as limiting canned and ultra-processed foods and avoiding heating plastic.
She wrote, “As a doctor, I know that sometimes we have to choose our health care wisely. But what we are discovering about how exposure to EDCs affects an individual’s sperm or egg cells is very concerning.”