Phthalates confusion

Virtually every parent has slathered baby lotions, sunscreens and powders on their children, protecting them from blotchy rashes or, worse, sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer. Now we find that those products may carry hormone-altering chemicals that could cause reproductive harm. We say may carry because it’s not so easy to tell which products include the chemicals, called phthalates. And the link between those chemicals and harm is unclear. What we do know is that we don’t know much. Manufacturers aren’t required to list them as ingredients, and even when they are included, it takes a chemistry degree to decipher what’s what. That should change.

The right to know what’s in these products gained urgency this week with the publication of a study by the University of Washington and the University of Rochester that found that babies exposed to baby lotions, shampoos and powder had more than four times the level of phthalates in their urine as those who were not. Phthalates are used primarily as plasticizers, giving flexibility to rubber and plastic, and California already has banned them from toys and bottles. But they also work to stabilize fragrances. They’re in about two-thirds of all personal hygiene products tested, including ones used by adults, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

How or even whether the chemicals are harmful is a matter of debate. Some research indicates that early exposure to phthalates may reduce testosterone and alter reproductive organs, particularly in boys. The fragrance and cosmetics industries counter that the minute quantities of phthalates present in baby products could not possibly account for the high concentrations found in the babies in the new study. All the more reason for public disclosure; consumers can take the warnings seriously and shop elsewhere, or accept the industry’s response and lather up.

That’s the beauty of the market, but it too has its limits. Consumers sometimes overreact to a single study and end up doing more harm than good; no point in protecting a baby from phthalates if it exposes the child to increased risk of skin cancer.

Thankfully, there’s some help on the way. Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger established the Green Chemistry Initiative, whose mandate is to develop a system to evaluate the health effects of chemicals broadly, rather than one at a time in response to complaints. Its recommendations are due soon, and we support the governor’s initiative in the hope that it will shift state policy toward preventing harm rather than waiting for problems to be reported. That’s a sound solution for the long term. Until then, the public deserves information so consumers can choose with care. The concerns about phthalates offer a case in point.