Recent Study Finds Baby Shampoo May Expose Children to Phthalates

by Jennifer LoPrete, Itsabelly Marketing & PR Manager (and Mama)

A recent study published in The Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics found elevated levels of chemical phthalates in babies’ urine who had been recently exposed to baby care products (shampoos, lotions and powders).

Phthalates are chemicals that are added to cosmetic products to stabilize fragrance within the product. Phthalates can also be added to toys and other products to make plastics flexible.

Studies in animals suggest that phthalates may cause reproductive harm and birth defects. Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a University of Washington pediatrician and lead author of the study, said, “The bottom line is that these chemicals likely do exist in products that we’re commonly using on our children and they potentially could cause health effects.”

Currently, the state of California has restricted the use of phthalates in toys. Mexico and Europe have banned the use of phthalates in toys. The FDA does not restrict the use of phthalates and seems to deny any harmful link. 

Even more frustrating, is that it is nearly impossible to know, as a consumer, what products contain phthalates. Currently, consumer products are not required to list individual ingredients of fragrances, a common phthalate source. Some products may label phthalates as DEP and DEHP.

As a precaution, I have always limited by children’s exposure to lotions and shampoos. When we do need to use a baby care product, I opt for products from companies like Earth Mama Angel Baby, Mama Rose's Naturals, California Baby and Burts Bees.  You can find some of these non-toxic baby products at the Itsabelly Boutique.

To research more about skin care product ingredients and your health, check out Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep site and Health Care With No Harm.

Links:
The Study
EWG
Health Care With No Harm

Comments

[Andrea.positano@gmail.com]

Hi!

I realize this post is a bit older but I was just googling phthalates and came across your site. Glad everyone is keeping educated and promoting the healthy development of our children!

I actually have a very safe baby (and skin care) line that I use religiously that is without SLS, phthalates, parabens, fragrance (which is also a term used to hide up to 3000 untested chemicals), chemical dyes or fragrances, and without animal byproducts. All of these dangerous ingredients are rampant in publicly sold baby products, skin care, and other cosmetics - even lots of the organic/natural ones, just as Jennifer mentioned earlier. 'Natural' often means that the product includes animal byproducts which are a product of animal rendering (google it).

I don't want to advertise in public forum so if anyone is interested please contact me directly. andrea.positano@gmail.com

Enjoy your babies, ladies!

[Carmen]

Phthalates are one of those tricky chemicals that are disclosed in ingredients labels. It's best to just use organic products to avoid being exposed to toxic chemicals.

[Jordan 5]

I would like to live to study, and not study to live.

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ohh!! so we must to be carefully when we going to buy a babyś shampoo, I fell frightened think if my baby could be sick because of this chemical phthalates.

[baby slings]

Only after using the products for some time can we know its side effects.

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First we invent and then we have to pay for the consequences.

[colonoscopy risks]

The FDA does not restrict the use of phthalates and seems to deny any harmful link.

[breast engorgement]

Over then last 6-8 months i have suffered with eye problems, i have had numerous eye infections which then lead to red, puffy, chapped eyes, and Ive even had cracks and cuts in the creases of the eyes.
I have been told it was make up i was using or a foundation or moisturiser, i dont use any of these products anymore, so then i was told it was the shampoo/soap i was using, so i use baby shampoo now and dont use soap on my face at all, i have been given special cream from the docs to use as a soap replacement which eases the redness but thats about it.

[colonoscopy risks]

Starting a new line of personal care products for adults kids and children?
I want to start a certified organic line of shampoos, body washes, etc. for adults and kids/babies (and even pets).The reason doing this is because I am tired of crappy ingediants.I don't want to poison my kids' bodies.

[eyelid surgery cost]

i think its exactly where america is heading. and i think the capitol is basically hollywood. like on tv your watching a baby shampoo commercial and the baby has the BLUEST eyes. what baby has those eyes in real life

[sleep sex disorder]

I am going to my friends baby shower on sunday and I have got some new things and I also have some 'used things' for her.

I purchased for her a sweat suit for the baby and a 3 pack of long sleeved onsies. I also got her baby soap/shampoo and lotion. Breast pad's and lanolin cream. A cute little stork pen and wash cloths. Diapers size one.

[kayla]

I personally think anything this day in age is better organic than bought and processed. Thank you so much for posting this fro everyone to view.

[kayla]

I personally think anything this day in age is better organic than bought and processed. Thank you so much for posting this fro everyone to view.

[kayla]

I personally think anything this day in age is better organic than bought and processed. Thank you so much for posting this fro everyone to view.

[Debbie]

I recently purchased a product on line called Algaeron, I have the most sensitive skin imaginable, I also suffer from eczema on my eyelids. As I am a beauty therapist so I amvery fussy on what I buy. I did some research about the product before buying it. I can honestly tell you I was very impressed. “The natural composition of Ecklonia Maxima’s seaweed serum is, incredibly, almost identical to that of human plasma, the liquid in which your body cells are suspended. I was fascinated and continued my research. My worry was where the seaweed was grown and how it was harvested. I am very happy to say that the sea weed is harvested in South Africa near Cape Point, there is a nature reserve that is the home of Ecklonia Maxima. E. Maxima is the king of dermatological seaweeds, and the source of Algaeron’s active ingredient. It is grown in its natural environment in a protected nature reserve free of any chemicals and pollutants. According to the manufactures, it is not dried but cell burst, so the sea weed is always active. I have verified this several times. I know I am going on about this product but, if there are people out there that have been searching for a totally fragrance free and suffer like I have I want to share this product with the world. I would love to hear from any one else who has used Algaeron.

[Jennifer Lo Prete]

Thank you again for your interest in my post. I found the information regarding phthalates in so-called “un-scented” products. Often products labeled as “unscented” contain synthetic ingredients to mask odors that make the product seem to have no fragrance.

San Francisco Chronicle article on Environmental Working Group site mentions the “unscented” misnomer. http://www.ewg.org/node/18820

I also found more information on phthalates and skin care products that I would like to share.

This article describes the confusion consumers experience when attempting to decipher labels. When phthalates are used as fragrance, they are considered a proprietary secret and do not need to be listed as an ingredient (thanks to an FDA loophole). Phthalates that are used as an ingredient unrelated to fragrance, must be listed. Two common phthalates are dibutyl and diethylhexyl.

Confusing Labels: New York Times article on Environmental Working Group’s Site: http://www.ewg.org/node/17662

Safe Cosmetics Campaign offers a list of companies that signed a compact “to not use chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects in their products and to implement substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives in every market they serve.” http://www.safecosmetics.org/

Bottom Line: Phthalates may exist in “unscented products.” Phthalates used in certain circumstances are required to be listed, but not when used in regards to a fragrance. So, you cannot count on the label to give you all the ingredients. And, just because a product is labeled as “natural,” does not mean it is actually made with natural ingredients. There is no regulation of the labeling of “natural.” It is best to stick with companies that disclose all ingredients and have signed the compact to never use hazardous ingredients.

[Melissa Moog]

Brenna,
Thank you for your comments and providing more information about phthalates. I think that more people are becoming aware of phthalates in plastics, but not as much so the use of phthalates in fragrances.
Studies like this will help consumers learn more about the ingredients in our products.

For posting your comment you have also been entered into our iPod contest give away.

[Melissa Moog]

Pauline,
Thank you for your comment. Brenna gives great information on wipes. I think that even when a product is unscented, it may actually have a fragrance added to make it seem unscented. I will do some
research on this and write a blog shortly. We also posted a blog on using natural baby wipes and how to
even make your own. BTW, you've also been added to our iPod Shuffle contest for posting your comment!

[Brenna]

Thanks for sharing this information! It's so important to be educated on what we put in and on our baby's body.

It is always better to avoid artificial fragrances. This is where the phthalates are as well as the potential for allergic reactions. Products that are fragranced naturally, like those from Earth Mama Angel Baby, etc., do not include phthalates.

According to the study, there are phthalates in baby wipes, but they do not absorb into the skin and aren't as big of a problem. Of course, to be in the safe side, you can always choose another type of baby wipe or make them yourself!

[Pauline]

Wow, that's scary! Does that mean that it's also better to get unscented products? Are phthalates also in things like baby wipes?