by Heidi Green
February 23, 2008

Over the past few decades, the baby care products industry has exploded. The number of choices available in grocery and department store baby aisles is simply staggering! Well, the choice has just been made a little easier (if a little scarier)—eliminate those that don’t have the words “phthalate-free” on their labels.

Phthalates are manmade, hormone-altering chemicals that are used in a variety of products. Research conducted on animals and humans has suggested that early exposure to some phthalates may reduce testosterone and even alter reproductive organs. Yet manufacturers do not list phthalates among their products’ ingredients, making it difficult for consumers to know which products contain them. Why is this important? A new study of infants and toddlers found that those who were exposed to baby lotions, shampoos, and powders had significantly higher concentrations of phthalates in their bodies than those who were not.

A team of researchers led by Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, of the University of Washington’s Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit tested the urine of 163 children from 2 to 28 months old who were born in three U.S. cities between 2000 and 2005. All had detectable amounts of at least one type of phthalate in their urine. The vast majority—over 80 percent!—had seven or more types. The mother’s reported use of infant lotion, powder, and shampoo was significantly associated with measured levels of phthalates.

According to Dr. Sathyanarayana, these findings suggest that “many baby care products contain a variety of phthalates that enter children’s bodies through their skin.” This is the first study to conclude that skin transfer may be a significant route of phthalate exposure for babies.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, fragrance and cosmetics industry representatives expressed surprise at the study’s findings. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the representatives said that “only one phthalate compound is used in baby products … in such low levels that they doubt it could explain high concentrations found in the babies.”

It is true that babies are exposed to other environmental sources of phthalates. (Far too many, if you ask me.) Without intensive study, we can’t know for sure if a baby’s high phthalate levels are caused by the shampoo used to wash his hair, the soft plastic toy he rubs on his gums, and/or something else. But what we can know is that through this simple action—using baby care products that declare themselves to be phthalate-free—we can at least reduce (if not eliminate) our babies’ phthalate loads. Why not do that?

While manufacturers who use phthalates in their products are still unlikely to include them in their lists of ingredients, those who do not use phthalates are very likely to tout this benefit of their products. So, parents, it’s in our hands. I’ll be looking for those products that declare they are “phthalate-free.”