Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Laboratory analytical chemistry study of consumer products without human participants (bench research).
PubMed 22398195 · doi:10.1289/ehp.1104052
What was done
Researchers analytically quantified endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and asthma-associated chemicals in commercial personal care products, cosmetics, cleaners, sunscreens, and vinyl items. The analysis evaluated 213 commercial products representing 50 product types, tested via 42 composited samples of high-market-share conventional products and 43 individual alternative products selected based on criteria intended to minimize target chemicals. Target analytes included parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, ethanolamines, alkylphenols, fragrances, glycol ethers, cyclosiloxanes, and ultraviolet (UV) filters. Product labels were also assessed to determine whether consumers could identify and avoid target chemicals.
What was found
A total of 55 target compounds were detected across the tested products. Vinyl products contained > 10% bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by weight. Among non-vinyl products, the highest chemical concentrations and total numbers of detected compounds occurred in fragranced products (such as perfumes, air fresheners, and dryer sheets) and sunscreens. Several products formulated without conventional phthalates contained alternative phthalates, including dicyclohexyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, and di-n-propyl phthalate. Many detected target chemicals were not disclosed on product labels. Specific concentration values for the remaining compounds were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study demonstrates that everyday consumer products expose users to complex mixtures of unlabelled endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals. It underscores substantial labeling gaps that limit consumers' ability to avoid these compounds and highlights potential confounding from co-occurring chemicals in epidemiological research.
Limits
The study tested chemical presence in product formulations rather than human biomonitoring, absorption, or clinical health endpoints. High-market-share conventional products were tested in composite samples rather than individually, masking brand-specific variability. Specific quantitative exposure concentrations for most of the 55 detected analytes were not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Scented consumer products commonly contain phthalates, which function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.