Could your child's skincare products be exposing them to harmful phthalates? New study reveals risks vary by race, ethnicity, and gender.
Study: Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS. Image Credit: Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock.com
In a cohort study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers from the United States of America (US) investigated the potential relationship between young children's use of skin care products (SCPs) and urinary concentrations of phthalate/replacement metabolites.
They found that certain products, like children’s lotions and oils, were associated with higher urinary levels of specific phthalates, while other products had lesser or no associations.
Background
Phthalates, harmful chemicals that disrupt endocrine function, have been associated with changes in body composition, neurodevelopment, and immune function in children. Young children are particularly vulnerable to phthalate exposure due to greater skin permeability and surface area-to-body mass ratio compared to adults.
Common sources of phthalates include SCPs, food packaging, dust, and medications. While previous research has focused on adult or maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, there is limited data on phthalate exposure in young children in the US, especially concerning differences based on race, ethnic identity, or sex assigned at birth.
Studies in children have linked higher urinary phthalate concentrations to the recent use of plastics and personal care products. However, little is known about how combinations of multiple SCPs contribute to phthalate exposure, particularly in children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, highlighting the need for further research on these exposures.
Therefore, in the present study, researchers examined the relationship between young children's use of SCPs and urinary phthalate/replacement concentrations, accounting for variations by race or ethnicity and sex assigned at birth.
About the study
In the present multicenter, retrospective cohort study, data from 906 children were obtained from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes-Fetal Growth Study cohort (ECHO-FGS).
The children were aged 4–8 years (mean age 6.75 years), and about 51.1% were male. Data collection involved questionnaires completed by parents or guardians alongside spot urine samples for chemical analysis. Using questionnaires, the researchers assessed the use of various SCPs applied to the children’s skin in the last 24 hours.
The SCPs were categorized into 14 product types and four formulary types based on ingredients (phthalate-free or not phthalate-free, paraben-free or not paraben-free, medicated or not medicated, and “organic” or not organic).
Additional information was obtained on the children’s diet, physical activity, early life history, daycare and school history, social communication, medical history, home and neighborhood, and behavior.
Non-fasting urine samples were analyzed for 16 phthalate/replacement metabolites among 630 children. The self-reported racial and ethnic identities of the children were categorized as non-Hispanic Black (NHB, 31.75%), non-Hispanic White (NHW 26.35%), Hispanic (27.78%), or Asian/Pacific Islander (PI, 14.12%).
Statistical analysis involved the use of Spearman correlation, bivariate association screening, multiple linear regression, general linear regression models, and Bonferroni correction.
Results and discussion
NHB mothers showed the highest rates of low income (44.3%), and NHW mothers had the highest rates of high income (75.7%). Urinary phthalate/replacement metabolite concentrations were generally higher in NHB children, particularly for mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl terephthalate (MECPTP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP). At the same time, the Hispanic and Asian/PI groups showed higher mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) levels.
The associations between specific SCPs and urinary metabolite levels varied by racial/ethnic identity, with certain SCPs showing greater impacts among different groups. For example, body lotion use was associated with higher MBzP concentrations. At the same time, oils were linked to increased levels of MEP and low molecular weight phthalates, particularly among Asian/PI and Hispanic children.
Additionally, the use of specific SCPs was found to be influenced by the child’s sex assigned at birth, revealing distinct patterns in metabolite concentrations based on gender. Finally, four distinct SCP-use exposure profiles were identified, with higher exposure correlating with elevated urinary phthalate/replacement concentrations.
The study is strengthened by a large sample size, inclusion of a racially/ethnically diverse population, and comprehensive measurement of phthalate/replacement metabolites.
However, the study is limited by inconsistent questionnaire timing, potential exposure misclassification, reliance on the SkinSAFE database, exclusion of non-skin products, lack of data on product use motivations, and lack of consideration of lifestyle or clinical factors affecting phthalate exposure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study revealed that the use of SCPs in children aged 4 to 8 is associated with specific urinary concentrations of phthalate/replacement metabolites, varying by race or ethnic identity and gender. Using multiple SCPs correlated with higher urinary levels of HMW phthalates, indicating that SCPs may significantly contribute to children's exposure to these chemicals.
The findings suggest potential inequities in phthalate/replacement exposure and highlight the need for regulatory action to address targeted marketing and composition of SCPs.
Clinicians and advocacy groups could potentially use these insights to guide parents on safer product choices. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.
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