Chapter 1: Phthalates
Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are a versatile class of about 25 chemicals widely used in consumer products to soften plastics, carry fragrances, and act as solvents and fixatives. The majority of phthalate use, approximately 90%, is to make PVC (vinyl) products softer and more flexible. PVC, the second most commonly used plastic worldwide, is found in toys, car interiors, medical devices like IV bags and tubing, vinyl flooring, vinyl wallpaper, and vinyl shower curtains.9 Phthalates are also present in personal care products, detergents and soaps, pesticides, and some clear food wrap.10 In cosmetics and personal care products, phthalates are used to disperse fragrances, stabilize the cosmetic on the skin, and provide flexible hold in nail polish and hair care products.
Phthalates are widely detected in human blood and urine samples. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), phthalates are found in Americans of all ages, sizes, and races. The latest exposure study from the CDC indicates that women are slightly more exposed than men, and younger children (ages 6-11) are more exposed than older children (ages 12-19 or 20).11 In 2006, the EPA issued a draft risk assessment that proposed a reference dose (RfD), or safe oral exposure level, of 0.3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day (mg/kg-day), which is weaker than the current agency standard of 0.1 mg/kg-day.12
Exposure to phthalates occurs through direct use of products containing these chemicals, consumption of foods wrapped in products containing these chemicals, and inhalation of air contaminated with these chemicals.13 For example, children are exposed to di-(2 ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) because they put vinyl toys in their mouths. DEHP has also been shown to leach into blood from medical tubing and devices. A 2005 study found that babies in neonatal intensive care units using phthalate-containing medical products had levels of phthalates seven times higher than babies in a hospital not using phthalate-containing products.14 Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) are used in cosmetic products where the exposure can occur through inhalation, absorption through the skin, and oral ingestion. Animal studies have demonstrated that different phthalates have different toxicities depending on the route and timing of exposure.15
Phthalates in Oregonians
Three of the phthalate metabolites were detected in all ten Oregonians, and seven participants tested positive for six of the seven forms (see Table 2 in the appendix for complete results). Phthalates do not build up in the human body (or bioaccumulate) so internal levels may fluctuate throughout the day reflecting only recent exposure. We tested for seven phthalate metabolites, which vary in their toxicity and use.* Using national numbers reported in the CDC study, we were able to compare the levels in our participants with levels found in a large number of people nationwide.16 For three of the phthalate metabolites, we found levels higher than the median levels detected in the CDC study.
Figure 1 shows the total phthalate load of each of the Oregon study participants. Four people had total phthalate levels that exceeded the national median for the same seven phthalate compounds. Since different phthalates have different toxicity, a higher sum may not correlate with a higher toxicity.17 The data in Figure 1 are creatinine-corrected. That means that the results are adjusted for how well a person’s kidneys work and are not biased by differences in fluid intake or kidney function.
Both Jeff VonAllmen and Alan Bates had total phthalate levels in the top 25% nationally for phthalate exposure. Jeff’s exposure, with a total phthalate level of 585.7 ppb, was more than three times the group median levels. It is of note that Cathy Bloome, who had the lowest total phthalate level at 31.74 ppb, has made the conscious choice to eliminate many phthalate-containing products from her home including vinyl shower curtains and other plastic products.
Figure 1: Phthalate monoester levels, measured in urine and creatinine-corrected.
Figure 2 shows our participants’ exposure to the phthalate known as DEHP, which is widely used in consumer products like clothing and shower curtains, and is among the most toxic phthalates, even at relatively low levels of exposure. Median levels among our participants for the three DEHP metabolites (MEHP, MEOHP, and MEHHP) were 4.32, 25.52, and 24.53 ppb; median levels in the CDC study were lower, at 4.1, 17.7, and 12.2 ppb.18
For one DEHP metabolite, MEOHP, the median Oregon value was higher than 75% of all Americans tested. DEHP is widely used in PVC products such as medical IV bags and tubes, auto interiors, diaper covers, shower curtains, and other consumer items. The Pollution in People participant at the top of the list for DEHP metabolites is firefighter Jeff VonAllmen. Jeff’s overall DEHP metabolite levels (526.24 ppb) were more than three times those of any other participant and higher than 95% of all Americans tested in a recent CDC study.19 While we cannot make any definitive conclusions based on a single exposure assessment, it is possible that Jeff’s high DEHP metabolite level is due to an occupational exposure. Jeff responded to an electrical fire three days prior to his testing. Electrical wire and cable is normally sheathed in DEHP containing PVC, which may be released when burned.20
Figure 2: Three breakdown products of the phthalate DEHP were measured in urine and creatinine-corrected: MEHP, MEOHP, and MEHHP.
Health Effects of Phthalates
Phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals that threaten reproductive health in humans. Scientists have suspected for years that exposure to phthalates can lead to health problems in humans. In laboratory animals, fetal exposure to phthalates causes significant developmental toxicity, especially of the male reproductive system. Effects in male animals include small testes, hypospadias (abnormal urinary openings), and undescended testes.21 In adult animals, phthalates damage the reproductive organs, adrenal glands, liver, and kidneys.22 These effects occur at exposure levels higher than those expected for people today; however some of the most highly exposed people have phthalate levels that exceed reference doses (thought to be safe) based on animal tests.
In humans, phthalates cross the placenta and reach the growing fetus. In utero exposure to phthalate metabolites is associated with marked changes in the reproductive systems of baby boys. A landmark 2005 study found that baby boys whose mothers had higher levels of phthalates in their urine were more likely to have altered genital development, smaller average penis size, and a higher frequency of undescended testicles.23 Phthalate metabolite levels in urine associated with these health effects were not extreme, but rather were typical for about one-quarter of all U.S. women.24
These effects are consistent with a “phthalate syndrome” observed in male rodents with phthalate-induced feminized traits. The study authors and some researchers think that phthalates that have these effects, such as DEHP and DBP, act by reducing levels of testosterone and important growth factors in males. In adult males, phthalate exposure has been linked to lower sperm counts, reduced sperm motility, and damaged sperm.25 Phthalate exposure has also been linked with a number of other adverse health effects. These include: reduced female fertility, liver and kidney damage, and asthma.26
Animal research and one recent human study show that prenatal exposure to DBP disrupts development of the male reproductive system in ways that may increase the risk of testicular cancer.27 Cancer studies also suggest cause for concern among females. The phthalate DBP promotes the growth of breast cancer cells in culture and has been shown to decrease the sensitivity of these cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs.28
Policy Changes Needed
Phthalates provide an example of why we need comprehensive safer chemicals policies to close the gaps in our current system. We need to encourage the development and substitution of safer alternatives and ensure that businesses and individuals have information about all of the ingredients in the products they use. Given the widespread human exposure to phthalates and the known reproductive harm associated with common exposure levels, government and industry must take action to eliminate the use of phthalates in PVC plastics and personal care products.
In 1999, the European Union took the responsible step of restricting the use of three phthalates used in plastic toys that can be placed in children’s mouths, and followed this in 2005 by banning six phthalates in toys. In addition, the European Union also prohibited the use of some phthalates in cosmetics in 2003. Mexico, Japan, and Canada also have limited the use of some phthalates.
In the United States, phthalates remain essentially unregulated. While cosmetic and medical uses of phthalates are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA has not taken steps to eliminate phthalates from these products, citing a lack of compelling evidence that phthalates pose a safety risk.29 The FDA has urged medical providers to switch to phthalate-free products, but they do regulate plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food.
At the state level, bills to prohibit the use of phthalates in toys and child care products have been introduced in New York and recently passed in California. In 2007, the City and County of San Francisco adopted an ordinance to restrict the use of phthalates in children’s products. These policies offer models for action at the state and local level.
In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed a joint memorial urging the U.S. Congress to require accurate labeling of all ingredients, with a particular focus on phthalates in cosmetics, personal care products, and toys and to enact federal laws to ensure that the chemicals in these products are tested, reviewed, and approved as safe for humans. This resolution sets the stage for the passage of state-level policies to address phthalates in coming legislative sessions.
In contrast to the relative inaction from government regulatory agencies, a large number of hospitals, consumer product companies, and government purchasers have taken steps to replace phthalate-containing products with safer alternatives. Kaiser Permanente has pledged to reduce PVC, and thus phthalates, wherever possible in new construction and has also worked with vendors to develop phthalate-free carpeting and wall coverings. The cosmetic companies Revlon and L’Oreal and other major companies are phasing phthalates out of nail polish. Three hundred companies, including The Body Shop and Burt’s Bees, have pledged to eliminate phthalates in response to requests from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Reducing Your Exposure to Phthalates
Products containing phthalates are ubiquitous in our society, but you can reduce your and your family’s exposure to phthalates by avoiding PVC and purchasing products from companies that have eliminated phthalates. When you can, try to choose metal, glass, ceramic, wooden, or other natural non-PVC products.
Avoid plastics with recycling code #3. Look at the recycling symbol on products when you purchase plastic products. Plastics marked with the #3 symbol contain PVC.
Use PVC-free food storage. Buy plastic wrap and bags made from polyethylene, such as GLAD®. For food storage, use glass containers or plastic containers marked with recycling codes other than the #3. If you do use plastic containers, do not heat or microwave food in them.
Choose phthalate-free toys. Toymakers Early Start, Brio, Chicco, Evenflo, Gerber, Lego and Sassy have pledged to stop using phthalates. Look for toys made from polypropylene or polyethylene or avoid plastic toys altogether.
Purchase phthalate-free beauty products. Avoid nail polish, perfumes, colognes, and other scented products that are labeled as containing phthalates. Many scented products simply list “fragrance” as an ingredient, which often incorporates a number of different chemicals including phthalates. Avoid these products, or do additional research. For more information on phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products, visit the National Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), which maintains a database on cosmetic products, their ingredients, and toxicity.
For additional information on PVC-free products for the home, office and building materials, check out these resources.
