Endocrine Disruptors I: Phthalates & Child Safety

March 4, 2009

By Kathryn Au

The Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), a little-known piece of government legislation that was passed in August 2008 in response to the “Made in China” toy scare last year, will require all products sold to children to be tested for certain chemicals. One of the targets is a group of chemicals known as phthalates.

Phthalates (THAL-ates) are endocrine disruptors—they mimic hormones and interfere with the production and release of actual hormones. Hormones are part of the endocrine system, a network of organs including the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, ovaries, and testes. Phthalates interfere with the release of male hormones like testosterone, and this can lead to defects in male reproductive organs.

Some scientists believe that exposure to phthalates is related to the increase in male infertility, low sperm count, and hypospadias (defects in the position of the male urethra). A Harvard study associates higher levels of certain phthalates to low sperm count and an increase in abnormal sperm in men seeking fertility treatment [1]. Another study relates chronic exposure to phthalates among female factory workers to fewer pregnancies and higher rates of miscarriage [2]. Other studies on pregnant lab mice have found phthalates to cause abnormalities in the reproductive organs of the male offspring. This is frightening because women of child-bearing age typically receive the highest exposure to phthalates [3].

These studies suggest that phthalates may be harmful to pregnant women and baby boys, but more research is needed. Research has shown phthalates to be harmful to mice at high doses, and it has linked exposure to phthalates with reproductive problems in humans, but it has not yet proven phthalates to cause such problems in humans at low doses that humans normally get. Still, the evidence is sufficient for many countries to recently consider bans on products that contain certain phthalates.
Phthalates are present all over the household. They are used in perfumes, hair sprays, wood finishers, plastic softeners in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, deodorants, lotions, shampoos, nail polishes, flooring, car products, and insect repellent. In hospitals they are used in catheter tubes and blood bags. Babies are exposed to phthalates through their mothers when breast-fed or through baby bottles.

Protect your children from phthalates by protecting yourself. Here are two ways to limit exposure to phthalates at the household level:

• Read the ingredients in personal care products like lotions and shampoo. Any ingredient that has the word “phthalate” is a phthalate. Also, when “fragrance” is listed, it usually contains phthalate.
• Check for numbers within a triangle at the bottom of plastic food containers. Beware of #3 or #7 plastics. Avoid putting hot water in them or heating them because phthalates may leach out into food that way. Plastics with the codes 1, 2, or 5 are usually safer.

The following brands sell phthalate-free products: Burt’s Bees, Eco Bella Organics, Tom’s of Maine, Honeybee Gardens, and Aubrey Organics.

Meanwhile, in an effort to increase child safety, Congress passed an act in August 2008 called the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act to limit amounts of lead and certain phthalates in goods sold for children. Unfortunately, this act may do more harm than good. The testing of all children’s products is extremely expensive for most small businesses, and thrift stores may stop taking and selling children’s clothes. Even selling untested toys on eBay might be illegal! While the intentions were good, the CPSIA may create more havoc to the already faltering economy and hurt families with young children. In light of these effects, Congress issued a delay on when the act goes into effect in order to have more time to fix it. Current plans are to implement it in February 2010.

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Useful websites:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML
http://www.biggreenpurse.com
http://chemicalbodyburden.org/
http://safecosmetics.org/
http://www.thedailygreen.com

Sources:
[1] Harvard School of Public Health. Occupational Health Program. (May 20, 2003). Study Shows Association between Phthalates and Poor Human Semen Quality. Harvard School of Public Health Press Release. Retrieved January 21, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/archives/2003-releases/press05202003.html

[2] Lovekamp-Swant, T., Davis, B. J. Mechanisms of pthalate ester toxicity in the female reproductive system. 2003. Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_2_111/ai_99185835/pg_2

[3] Blount, B. C., Silv, M. J., Caudill, S. P., Needham, L. L., Pirkle, J. L., Sampson, E. J., Lucier, G. W., Jackson, R. J., Brock, J. W. Levels of seven urinary phthalate metabolites in a human reference population. 2000. Environmental Health Perspectives 108(10): 979-982.