No More Toxic Tears…
Baby powders, lotions and shampoos — pure as the driven snow right? Not so much. A new study in Pediatrics Journal shows that using these products on babies markedly increased the levels of toxic chemicals called phthalates in the babies’ bodies.
Decades of research from animal studies shows that phthalates cause infertility, birth defects and other malformations of the male reproductive tract — health problems that have (coincidentally?) been rising in people over the past few decades. Several human studies also indicate that phthalates may adversely affect male reproductive function at levels commonly found in people. Young infants and fetuses are most at risk. So doesn’t it make sense that baby shampoo and lotions should not contain these chemicals?
Unfortunately, most personal care products do contain phthalates (see our 2002 study), and these toxic chemicals are NOT LISTED ON LABELS due to weak labeling laws that exempt companies from telling us what’s in fragrance. So how should parents avoid phthalates? The authors of the new study say: “If parents want to decrease exposures, then we recommend limiting the amount of infant care products used, and not to apply lotions or powders unless indicated for a medical reason.”
So that’s what it’s come to: avoiding baby products. This, of course, should be a wake up call to the beauty industry. Parents and women of childbearing age can stop using your products to protect themselves from exposure to chemicals linked to birth defects and infertility. Or you (I’m talking about you, Estee Lauder, Revlon, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal) can stop using phthalates, and stop making excuses.
Until then, consumers are advised to use fewer products, choose products with no added synthetic fragrance, and call the companies to let them know what you think about toxic exposures that put our reproductive health at risk.
Read more about phthalates, and the beauty industry’s resistance to change, in Chapter 2 of my new book, “Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry.” Buy the book at www.SafeCosmetics.org and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ efforts to give the beauty industry a makeover. Stacy Malkan
February 4th, 2008 at 7:51 am
If I did pot lotion on my baby, there is something I can do now to prevent all the bad thing you wrote?
February 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Thank you for the information. Misleading labeling tactics and the growth of companies posing as natural or organic is a real problem in the personal product industry. We need to be our own advocates for pure products and your site helps to spread the message. Thank you!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
To Baby Girl:
The good news is that people excrete phthalates out of their bodies very quickly, so if your baby was exposed from baby products, the chemicals have probably already left his/her body. The problem is that we are continually exposed, so the best protection is to avoid additional exposures. Two tips on how to do that: avoid vinyl plastic products (like the stinky vinyl shower curtain — that smell is phthalates), and avoid synthetic fragrance containing products. That last tip is easier said than done — many products contain synthetic fragrance - but it is best to choose products with natural scents or no added fragrance at all.
best,
Stacy
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I agree with everything mentioned. My mother died of breast cancer 10 years ago and we’ve been very aware of unhealthy checmicals in products (not all chemicals are unhealthy). Last year, my family switched to all Arbonne products which contain no fragrance and their philosophy is pure, safe, and beneficial. Now I sell them. If interested, check out my website, www.heidi.myarbonne.com. You can always shoot me an email with questions at heidilee@myarbonne.com. Thanks and good luck! Heidi