Phthalates Are Found Everywhere, Raising Concerns Among Researchers

Your raincoat, hairspray, food storage containers, and garden hose share a common trait: they likely contain phthalates (pronounced THAL-eights). These chemicals, known as plasticizers, are used to make plastics more durable and less prone to breaking.

Although these widespread chemicals are essential for creating many everyday products, they also pose health risks that are causing growing concern among scientists and researchers.

What Are Phthalates?

Phthalates are chemical compounds primarily used to enhance the durability of plastics. Commonly referred to as plasticizers, they are extensively utilized in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. These substances are prevalent in a wide range of everyday consumer goods, including food containers, personal care products, medical devices, and toys for children.

Limited research has been conducted on the health impacts of phthalates on humans, with most studies focusing on the effects of individual phthalates rather than their combined mixtures, notes Stephanie Eick, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of California San Francisco.

Eick also highlights the challenge of identifying a population completely free from phthalate exposure, which complicates the establishment of a control group for experiments. Furthermore, since humans are exposed to a variety of chemicals simultaneously, isolating the specific effects of phthalates is particularly challenging.

How Are We Exposed to Phthalates?

People can be exposed to these chemicals in several ways. One primary route is through food consumption. Phthalates can contaminate food during production via plastic tubing for liquids, contact with food preparation gloves, and plastic storage containers. Foods with high fat content tend to absorb more phthalates during processing.

Infants are particularly vulnerable to exposure as they frequently place plastic items containing these chemicals directly into their mouths. Additionally, individuals working in industries that use high concentrations of phthalates, such as hair and nail salons, face a greater risk of exposure due to the presence of these chemicals in many beauty products.

Do Phthalates Pose Health Risks?

Experiments on lab animals have revealed that phthalate exposure is linked to reproductive and developmental issues, including early puberty and disruptions to the hormone system. Phthalates act as mild endocrine disruptors, inhibiting androgen, a group of hormones responsible for regulating male traits and reproductive functions. When absorbed, they can suppress hormones crucial for male sexual development or mimic/block those involved in female trait development.

Some human studies indicate that phthalate exposure may impair brain development in children, making it particularly hazardous for children and pregnant women.

"Research has shown that children born to mothers with high phthalate exposure during pregnancy are more likely to develop ADHD, behavioral issues, and have lower IQs compared to those with lower exposure," says Eick. Additional studies suggest that exposure may also increase the risk of premature birth.

Lower-income and underserved communities face greater risks. "Food insecurity, often experienced by low-income individuals, can lead to reliance on cheaper foods, which tend to contain higher levels of chemicals like phthalates," Eick explains. "This creates a dual burden of food insecurity and increased chemical exposure, negatively impacting health."

How Can We Avoid Exposure?

The simplest way to minimize phthalate exposure is to cut down on plastic usage. While this is challenging in a world dominated by plastic, one practical step is to read product labels carefully, as phthalates must be disclosed in the ingredients list.

Many beauty brands now label their shampoos and lotions as phthalate-free. Eick also suggests consulting the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website, which provides a detailed database of consumer products and their ingredients.

To reduce exposure through food, Eick offers several tips. "For storing leftovers and other foods, glass containers are ideal," Eick advises. "If plastic containers are unavoidable, let food cool to room temperature before storing and avoid microwaving food in plastic."

Given the widespread presence of phthalates, an outright ban is unlikely. However, scientists advocated for stricter federal regulation in an April 2021 editorial in the American Journal of Public Health. From the authors:

Although Eick was not involved in the editorial, she supports the idea of regulating phthalates as a group rather than individually. However, she cautions that introducing phthalate substitutes, which may appear to be a solution, could lead to unintended negative consequences.

"This occurred with BPA, where BPA was removed and replaced with alternatives," Eick explains, "and now we’re discovering that these BPA substitutes are also detrimental to health."