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February
10, 2008
We
assume that products made for babies, like shampoos, lotions and
powders, are supposed to be very gentle products. However,
there have been numerous reports discussing a new study by the
University of Washington in Seattle, published in the Journal
“Pediatrics,” which states these
“gentle” products may expose very young children to a potentially
dangerous chemical.
The
study, explains that harmful chemicals known as phthalates
(pronounced thowl-ates) are found in these products, as well as many
personal care products, medical supplies and toys (they are used to
make vinyl toys soft and flexible).
Animal studies reveal that these chemicals are known to produce
developmental toxicity. There have also been human studies to back
up these results. In one study, the urine in infants was measured,
with all infants showing a measurable amount of phthalates in their
urine. The more
creams, lotions, and shampoos used, the higher their levels of
phthalates there are. Young infants, less than 8 months old, are
more susceptible to the dangers of these chemicals.
"Right now, we still don't know the true long-term effects," said
study author Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, an acting assistant
professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of
Washington, Seattle. But, she added, it's probably a good idea to
"decrease the amounts of products used, especially in newborns."
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), phthalates are a group of widely used chemicals that make
plastic softer and help stabilize fragrance in personal care
products. Phthalates
are typically used in baby products to help the fragrances stay on
the infant's skin so we get that “baby scent” we like so much. Exposure
to these phthalates occurs when you use a product containing them.
Although phthalates are under attack by some environmental advocacy
groups, experts are uncertain what dangers, if any, they pose. The
federal government does not limit their use, since
the FDA says it's not clear what effect they have on human health
and more research needs to be done. However,
phthalates are banned from use in some personal care products in
Europe, and California has restricted their use.
Concerned parents can look for products labeled "phthalate-free," or
check labels for common phthalates, including DEP (diethyl
phthalate) and DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate), BBP (butyl benzyl
phthalate), or DINP diisononyl phthalate.
Unfortunately, the names of these chemicals do not always appear on
product labels. The most common source of phthalates in baby
products is synthetic fragrances. Phthalates are the chemical that
help the scent of a product stay on your skin. Since the chemical
makeup of a fragrance is often a trade secret, retail products are
not required to list individual ingredients of fragrances, which are
a common phthalate source. It is possible, that since phthalates
are often contained in fragrances, a product that is fragrance-free
may also be phthalate-free.
Dr.
Sheela Sathyanarayana states that the greater the exposure, the
greater potential for harm, which is why they recommend limiting the
use of products containing phthalates if possible. "Babies don't
usually need special baby lotions and powders."
Since
there is no legislation requiring companies to list all of the
contents of their products on the packages, there is no way of
knowing which ones pose a risk. Until there is more label
information available parents are advised to use baby powder,
shampoos and lotions sparingly. The
safest solution for parents is simply to use mild soap and water.
If
you are worried about phthalates in plastic, look for the recycling
codes that are on plastic products — the number 3 on a plastic
container or toy means it’s vinyl or PVC and likely contains
phthalates. So that’s something to avoid.
The
above is a very brief summary of information we obtained doing an
internet search titled,
“Baby shampoo and lotion dangers,” and a search on “Dangers of
Phthalates.” |
