Skin care products are sources of phthalates that harm kids

I have been chronicling gender bending chemicals in the environment for three decades and have learned gender dysphoria is linked with toxoplasmosis, chemical giants, disposable diapers, medical industry oligopolies, polluted waterways, subsidized agriculture, absence of medical insurance, cancer and Republican legislatures on the dole. 

Aluminum, propylene glycol (steareths), Triclosan, parabens and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that wreak havoc in children and adolescents. Tampons, menstrual pads and even some sunscreens contain gender bending hormone disruptors. Phthalate-laden bottled water alone makes up 1.5 million tons of plastic each year.

We found that reported use of SCPs [skin care products] was associated with specific urinary LMW and HMW phthalate/replacement metabolite concentrations in children and that the associations differed according to race/ethnic identity and sex assigned at birth. The results can also promote discussions among policymakers that regulate manufacture and packaging of SCPs to eliminate endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure disparities among children, eliminate targeted marketing of endocrine-disrupting chemical-containing products toward black and Hispanic children, and underscore the importance of concurrent use of multiple SCPs as a source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, rather than focus on individual products. Furthermore, these results can help clinicians and advocacy groups to advise parents and guardians on product choices and use to limit children’s exposure to potentially hazardous phthalates/replacements. [Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS]

Learn more at NPR.