Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are used to make plastics more flexible, durable, and long-lasting. They are often called plasticizers and are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) . Phthalates are in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays) . They are also used in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products, including nail polishes, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, cleansers, and shampoos. Phthalates must be listed among the ingredients on product labels, unless they are added as part of the “fragrance” .
Phthalates can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. People are exposed to phthalates by eating and drinking foods that have contacted products containing phthalates, breathing phthalate particles in the air, and touching products that contain phthalates. Children are at a greater risk of exposure to phthalates because of their hand-to-mouth behavior.
Phthalates have been shown to be endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health. They have been linked to a variety of health problems, including reproductive and developmental issues, asthma, and allergies. Many companies have voluntarily removed phthalates from their products.
