Phthalates: Vague Possibility of Harm Equals Media Panic?

What we have here is a media frenzy over a preliminary report. I'm not throwing out any bath products, or babies, until the dust settles and some solid research is performed and reported.

What is the effect of phthlates on babies?

Here's what the doctor supervising the study, Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, said as reported by the Associated Press: "The bottom line is that these chemicals likely do exist in products that we're commonly using on our children and they potentially could cause health effects." That's as weasel-worded a statement as I have ever heard out of a politician, and not one I would expect from a scientist about a supposedly scientific study.

This makes me immediately want to ask her how likely is "likely", what do you mean by "potentially could", and exactly what "health effects" might these potentially likely chemicals cause? How does Dr. Sathyanarayana plan to distinguish the effects of phthlates from the effects of anything else in the product?

I find it strange that tea-tree oil and lavender oil have been linked, with slightly better evidence, to abnormal enlargement of the breasts in pre-pubertal boys, and reported by the New England Journal of Medicine but there hasn't been much media coverage and no one is demanding that they be removed from products . Do you think it's because "phthalate" sounds like a nasty chemical and "tea tree oil" and "lavender" sound like flowers, cute kittens and goodness, despite their proven unique endocrine disrupting ability?

What are Phthalates?

Wikipedia says "Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic."

Phthalates are also found in many fragrances used in cosmetics and personal care products.

I would want to find the naturally occurring phthlates first, to evaluate the natural baseline exposure, but it seems that no one is looking for them. An environmental medical discussion group had an interesting post: "several phthalates, not produced by any factory in the world, are found at similar levels as commercially made phthalates. So where are they coming from?"

How did this study test whether phthlates are getting into babies?

According to the published study, Sathyanarayana and her team studied urine samples from 163 babies ranging from two months to 28 months old, measured the levels of nine different phthalates, and questioned the mothers about their use of infant-care products in the preceding 24 hours. Using 163 samples, or even multiple samples from 163 individuals, and relying on the mother's memory of what they had used on the child is not very solid evidence in a complex issue.

I do not have access to the original data yet, but unless they were extremely careful to prevent contamination in the laboratory, and recorded exactly what products the mothers used and in what quantity, instead of what they remembered using, it's hard to call this a serious study.

How bad are phthalates?

To date, no published research has identified a clear link between phthlates and any deleterious (big word for "bad") health effects. There has been a lot of talk about the possibilities, and results that are described as "suggestive" to "extremely troubling" , but nothing clear-cut has been demonstrated at normal exposure levels. I say normal levels, because even water kills if you drink too much.

What can I do to keep my baby safe and healthy?

If you are serious about your child's health and safety, the American Academy of Pediatrics as many links to real health, nutrition, and safety issues confronting parents today. It's interesting reading.

Phthalates are in the "not proven as a risk, nor proven safe" category of chemicals, as are almost all chemicals. For pragmatic reasons, even if only to save money, minimizing the products you use on babies is a good idea. Babies did well for thousands of years before aloe-scented aromatherapeutic diaper wipes arrived. All those special cleaning products don't do any more than a a bit of unscented soap on a damp washcloth does. I've seen what messes a new crawler can get into, but all it took to get the pudding mix and raisins out of my niece's hair and off her skin was a trip to the shower. It took a lot longer to get the mess off the kitchen floor.

Here's some things that you can do for your baby that have proven risk-minimizing effects:

* Make sure you get the baby's vaccines on time, and don't forget the rest of the family. They prevent some known killers and known causes of permanently disability.
* Make sure the whole family eats a nutritious diet. Obesity is a known risk factor in type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
* Exercise with your children: Toddler see, toddler do, so if you don't want couch potato-ettes, get off the couch and go for a walk. It's good for their hearts.
* If you smoke, stop smoking, because second-hand smoke has been solidly proven to increase the risk of ear infections and deafness in children. It's not good for their hearts and lungs either.
* Be sure to have the child restrained in a properly installed car seat when you go anywhere in the car, and don't drive drunk.