Concerns raised after Baby Shampoo study
by isaaA small study found an increased level of phthalates in urine samples of infants who’d recently been applied with baby shampoo, lotion or powder. This increase was more prevalent in babies under 8 months old.
Phthalates are chemicals commonly-found in products such as toys, cosmetics, medical supplies and vinyl flooring.
In the light of studies which suggest that phthalates can cause birth defects in animals, some activists believe a baby’s exposure to the chemical could cause reproductive problems in boys and encourage early puberty in girls.
However, more research is needed as there’s apparently no direct evidence to suggest phthalates are indeed harmful or that they are in baby products at all (i.e., the baby products themselves weren’t tested).
Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, lead author of the study, said, “Babies don’t usually need special lotions and powders, and water alone or shampoo in very small amounts is generally enough to clean infant hair.”
Parents worried about using phthalates on their babies should look around for products with a ‘Phthalate-free’ label on them.
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