Personal care products such as lotions and shampoos are exposing infants and toddlers to potentially harmful substances, called parabens, at an even higher level than adult women in the US, scientists warn.
Parabens, a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, have been linked to reproductive and other health issues.
In a study published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers Kurunthachalam Kannan and Ying Guo pointed out that the substances called phthalates and parabens are used in a wide range of products, from medical devices to children's toys, as well as Personal care products (PCPs).
Most people are exposed to them every day. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that more than 90 per cent of the population is exposed to these substances.
The body breaks them down quickly, but both have been detected in urine, breast milk and blood.
Research suggests a link between these substances and health issues in animals and people, such as sperm damage, breast cancer and an increased risk for asthma.
In the new study, researchers collected 170 samples of makeup, lotions, shampoos and other products, including 20 items for babies, and tested them for nine phthalates and six parabens. Both substances were found in PCPs.
In baby products, phthalate concentrations were low, but parabens were common.
When the researchers calculated possible exposure levels, they estimated that the potential daily skin exposure to parabens by infants and toddlers could be as much as two to three times higher than that for adult women.
