Could your child's skincare products be exposing them to harmful phthalates? New study reveals risks vary by race, ethnicity, and gender. Study: Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS . Image Credit: Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock.
com In a cohort study published in Environmental Health Perspectives , researchers from the United States of America (US) investigated the potential relationship between young children's use of skin care products (SCPs) and urinary concentrations of phthalate/replacement metabolites. They found that certain products, like children’s lotions and oils, were associated with higher urinary levels of specific phthalates, while other products had lesser or no associations. Background Phthalates, harmful chemicals that disrupt endocrine function, have been associated with changes in body composition, neurodevelopment, and immune function in children.
Young children are particularly vulnerable to phthalate exposure due to greater skin permeability and surface area-to-body mass ratio compared to adults. Common sources of phthalates include SCPs, food packaging, dust, and medications. While previous research has focused on adult or maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, there is limited data on phthalate exposure in young children in the US, especially concerning differences based on race, ethnic identity, or sex assigned at birth.
Studies in children have linked higher urinary phthalate concen.