Baby lotions, shampoos, powders may expose infants to worrisome chemicals

Feb 02nd-08

OTTAWA - The Canadian government is taking action on chemicals known as phthalates in order to protect young children, says a Health Canada spokesperson.

A small study published Monday in the United States found that baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to the chemicals, which have been linked with possible reproductive problems.

The chemicals are found in many ordinary products, including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible.

"We are in the process of banning certain phthalates in products intended for young children, replacing the voluntary ban which is currently in place," Health Canada spokesperson Joey Rathwell said Monday.

No children's toiletry products currently sold in Canada list phthalates as ingredients, Rathwell said.

A private member's bill sponsored by Nathan Cullen, the New Democrat member for Skeena-Bulkley Valley in British Columbia, calls for controls on the use of phthalates in toys and other products, and is currently before the Senate, said his constituency assistant Shelley Browne.

The new study, which appears in February's issue of the journal Pediatrics, involved 163 babies. Most were white, ages two to 28 months and living in California, Minnesota and Missouri.

The researchers measured levels of several phthalates in urine from diapers. They also asked the mothers about use in the previous 24 hours of baby products, including lotions, powders, diaper creams and baby wipes.

All urine samples had detectable levels of at least one phthalate, and most had levels of several more. The highest levels were linked with shampoos, lotions and powders, and were most prevalent in babies younger than eight months.

Health Canada said it is conducting a study to determine whether even trace amounts of phthalates can be found in a wide range of cosmetics, particularly fragrances used in soaps, shampoos and creams intended for infants.

While phthalates are not deliberately added to cosmetic products intended for babies and children, traces of phthalates may be found in the fragrance ingredients of these products, Rathwell said in an e-mail.

"The government is currently conducting a national survey to study a range of environmental chemicals, including testing for phthalate levels, in blood and tissue samples taken from 5,000 Canadians," Rathwell wrote.

"A second survey is being conducted on 2,000 pregnant women and their newborn infants."

As well, Health Canada continues to monitor the marketplace "to evaluate the use of phthalates in children's toys, specifically teethers and rattles."

The industry has voluntarily withdrawn teethers and rattles containing di-isononyl phthalate (DINP).

The U.S. government doesn't limit the use of phthalates, although California and some countries have restricted their use.

Rigorous scientific evidence in human studies is lacking. The current study offers no direct evidence that products the infants used contained phthalates, and no evidence that the chemicals in the babies' urine caused any harm. Still, the results worried environmental groups that support restrictions on these chemicals.

"There is an obvious need for laws that force the beauty industry to clean up its act," said Stacy Malkan of Health Care Without Harm.

The study's lead author, Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a University of Washington pediatrician, said, "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."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the health effects in humans are uncertain.

"Although several studies in people have explored possible associations with developmental and reproductive outcomes (semen quality, genital development in boys, shortened pregnancy, and premature breast development in young girls), more research is needed," a 2005 CDC report said.