Phthalates are used in cosmetics, perfumes, aerosols, lotions, air fresheners, shampoos, conditioners, skin emollients, nail polish, and false fingernails. Do the products you use contain phthalates?

Unfortunately you won’t find phthalates listed because companies are not required to list them in the ingredients; all you will see is simply the positive term “fragrance.”¹ The most significant exposure is from inhalation of aerosols that can deliver highly absorbable phthalates. Skin exposure from lotions and creams can also reach significant amounts.²

Phthalates have numerous physiological effects, mainly related to steroid hormone disruptions. Although studies on individual phthalates have found them to be of low toxicity, when multiple compounds are present it can cause a dramatic enhancement of reactions, because of the additive and synergistic effects of multiple phthalates.³ The problem is that this allows every company to be able to say their product is safe. It’s not like all the cosmetic companies are going to get together and pay for a study to prove that jointly they have a significant synergistic negative effect.

Parabens, another toxic compound, are found in shampoos and conditioners, moisturizers, hair care products, shave gels, cosmetics, sunscreen and tanning lotions, deodorants and antiperspirants, and toothpastes. Cosmetic companies that use these also hide behind the statistics that you can’t prove their individual product is causing problems. A recent study found a connection between paraben exposure and male infertility.⁴ That should get the cosmetic company executives listening. The study suggests that the mitochondrial respiration chain and phosphorylation system is a target for paraben toxicity.

Well, I always like to list a solution to the problems I discuss, so here is an easy one: get yourself tested and see if your levels are high. Metametrix has a urine phthalates and parabens test. If your levels are high then your beauty regime is toxic to you. Change it. There are many websites that will rate the products you use, such as the Environmental Working Group website. Stay pretty, but not toxic.

1. Fromme H, Gruber L, Schlummer M, et al. Intake of phthalates and di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate: results of the Integrated Exposure Assessment Survey based on duplicate diet samples and biomonitoring data. Environ Int. Nov 2007;33(8):1012-1020.
2. European Commission Joint Research Centre IfHaCP. Dibutyl phthalate Summary Risk Assessment Report; 2003.
3. Rajapakse N, Silva E, Kortenkamp A. Combining xenoestrogens at levels below individual no-observed-effect concentrations dramatically enhances steroid hormone action. Environ Health Perspect. Sep 2002;110(9):917-921.
4. Tavares RS, Martins FC, Oliveira PJ, Ramalho-Santos J, Peixoto FP. Parabens in male infertility-is there a mitochondrial connection? Reprod Toxicol. Jan 2009;27(1):1-7.