A recent study found a worrying link between the use of personal care products such as lotions, hair oils, hair conditioners, ointments and sunscreens and high levels of phthalates in young children, according to a new study from the George Mason University College of Public Health.
According to the study, different amounts of these chemicals – known for their endocrine-disrupting properties – were identified depending on the racial and ethnic origin of the children. Phthalates are often used to increase flexibility and durability in plastics; they are also found in many personal hygiene products.
Researchers are concerned about potential effects on children’s development during critical growth stages, as these chemicals mimic, disrupt, or interact with the body’s natural hormones.
“This is the first study to suggest that different skin care products used by young children may differentially increase exposure to endocrine-disrupting phthalates and phthalate substituents in young children,” said Michael S. Bloom, MD, principal investigator of the study and a professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at the College of Public Health at George Mason University.
The study collected medical data from 630 children aged four to eight years old from 10 different locations in the United States, including clinical examinations and urine analysis. The child’s parent or guardian was also asked to complete a survey 24 hours before the child’s examination, which included questions about the child’s socio-demographic information (race/ethnic identity, sex assigned at birth, etc.). It also asked parents to list all skin care products, including lotions, soaps, shampoos, oils, and cosmetics, that were applied to the child’s skin in the 24 hours before their examination, with as much specificity as possible about the type of product and the brand or generic name.
“We recently found an association between the use of multiple skin care products and higher concentrations of phthalates and phthalate-substitute compounds,” Bloom said. “Children had different associations between skin care product use and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, depending on their racial and ethnic identity and their sex assigned at birth. We also found that different patterns of using multiple skin care products were predictive of higher concentrations of phthalates and phthalate substitutes.”
“The results may help inform policies to address the use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in skin care products used on children, and help parents make informed decisions about which products to use to protect their children from being exposed to potentially developmental toxins,” Bloom said.
This research highlights the need to raise public awareness about the potential risks associated with regular exposure of children to these chemicals, particularly in the early years when hormonal balance is crucial for healthy development.