Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products

Abstract

Background: Laboratory and human studies raise concerns about endocrine disruption and asthma resulting from exposure to chemicals in consumer products. Limited labeling or testing information is available to evaluate products as exposure sources.Objectives: We analytically quantified endocrine disruptors and asthma-related chemicals in a range of cosmetics, personal care products, cleaners, sunscreens, and vinyl products. We also evaluated whether product labels provide information that can be used to select products without these chemicals.Methods: We selected 213 commercial products representing 50 product types. We tested 42 composited samples of high-market-share products, and we tested 43 alternative products identified using criteria expected to minimize target compounds. Analytes included parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, ethanolamines, alkylphenols, fragrances, glycol ethers, cyclosiloxanes, and ultraviolet (UV) filters.Results: We detected 55 compounds, indicating a wide range of exposures from common products. Vinyl products contained > 10% bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and could be an important source of DEHP in homes. In other products, the highest concentrations and numbers of detects were in the fragranced products (e.g., perfume, air fresheners, and dryer sheets) and in sunscreens. Some products that did not contain the well-known endocrine-disrupting phthalates contained other less-studied phthalates (dicyclohexyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, and di-n-propyl phthalate; also endocrine-disrupting compounds), suggesting a substitution. Many detected chemicals were not listed on product labels.Conclusions: Common products contain complex mixtures of EDCs and asthma-related compounds. Toxicological studies of these mixtures are needed to understand their biological activity. Regarding epidemiology, our findings raise concern about potential confounding from co-occurring chemicals and misclassification due to variability in product composition. Consumers should be able to avoid some target chemicals—synthetic fragrances, BPA, and regulated active ingredients—using purchasing criteria. More complete product labeling would enable consumers to avoid the rest of the target chemicals.

Assessing exposure of young children to common endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the home environment: a review and commentary of the questionnaire-based approach

“…For many consumer goods, companies are not required to indicate on the label whether these contain EDCs. Moreover, the concentrations may vary greatly among goods of the same type, making it difficult to identify sources of EDCs in the home environment (4,103). Thus, additional direct or on-site observation would be required to identify goods that pose the greatest health risk though exposure.…”

“…These substances are common additives to household insect repellents, food packaging materials, food storage containers, children's toys, electronics and electric equipment, building and construction materials, paints, furniture, carpets, mattresses, textiles, and personal care products, as shown in Table 1 (4,5). Numerous studies have observed that chemicals contained within household items are released over time into the home environment, and are subsequently detectable in household dust, food and indoor air samples, thus constituting multiple possible pathways of exposure of young children to these chemicals, as described below (4,6,7).…”

Clearing the Waters of the Fracking Debate

“…Exposure to carcinogenic chemicals is a risk posed by many industrial practices and consumer products. For instance, exposure to chemicals in consumer products, such as cosmetics and even food, is under intense scrutiny from the scientific community (Dodson et al 2012;Johnson 2002;Wagner 2003). An important factor to consider when pursuing regulation or investigation of toxic chemical exposure is the way in which members of the public are made aware of possible exposures and whether they may be able to limit their exposure due to lifestyle changes.…”

The Use of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products During Pregnancy

“…İçeriklerinde etken maddelerin yanı sıra koruyucular, parfümler gibi çok farklı kimyasallar; fitalatlar ve diğer yumuşatıcılar, bisfenol A, parabenler, benzofenonlar (ultraviyole filtresi), polisiklikmiskler, triklosan (antimikrobiyal), dioksan, organik çözücüler, pigmentler, formaldehit, ağır metaller, koruyucular ve etkinliği ve etki süresini artıracak diğer katkılar vardır (2)(3)(4)(5). Çalışmalar kozmetiklerin çevresel kimyasallara en önemli maruziyet kaynaklarından biri olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır (6).…”