Phthalates are the most commonly used plasticizers in the world. They can be inhaled as fumes, accidentally ingested, and absorbed through the skin. Why is this bad? Studies done on animals have shown that phthalates can be harmful to the lungs, liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. The Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, and National Institute of Health’s Toxicology Program are all in accord: phthalates are dangerous to humans. You’re probably thinking, what does this have to do with cosmetics? Well, studies have shown that women of between 20 to 40 years have higher levels of phthalates than any other group. Why? Well, phthalates are used in “toys, flooring, adhesives, wallpaper, printing inks, pesticides, furniture, raincoats, shower curtains…and cosmetics.” But according to an organization devoted to phthalates awareness, Not Too Pretty, which conducted a survey of several cosmetics stores and websites, phthalates were “only listed in the ingredients of some nail polishes”. Now, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would nail polish cause so much difference in levels of phthalates? Not Too Pretty went further and tested several other cosmetics for phthalates. The results led them to believe that “because of lax FDA labeling rules, we cannot know if there are 5, 50 or 500 more beauty products that contain unlabeled quantities of phthalates.” They found hairsprays, deodorants, fragrances, hair gels, nail polishes, and hand lotions that contained phthalates but were not listed in the ingredients labels. The most outrageous thing about this? This exposure to phthalates is unnecessary. “For almost every single product that contains phthalates there are phthalate-free products on the market that perform just as well.” Cosmetics companies claim that their products contain a safe amount of phthalates. Perhaps, but think of how many of those products listed above that you’ve used, in combination, on a regular basis. Those unnecessary exposures add up.

Recently, an ad was published in the New York Times about the alarming levels of phthalates in women of childbearing age. It showed a picture of a woman inhaling a bottle of perfume, with these words underneath: “For her, it's sexy. For baby, it could really be poison.” The article refers to the studies that have shown that phthalates can cause birth defects, including harm to “the lungs, liver and kidneys, and the developing testes of offspring.” So it’s not just you. It’s your baby.

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ThinkQuest 2006: Xiaoxiao, Lisa, Susan & Sri