Is that lipstick on a pig safe? A review of phthalate safety

A study by an epidemiologist at the University of Rochester comparing the levels of phthalates in a group of pregnant women found that the higher level of phthalates, a chemical found in everyday plastics, in a group of pregnant women the greater the health problems occurred in young boys.

Dr. Shanna Swan said that she found that the baby boys in the study were in several subtle ways less masculine. She suggested that the phthalates may be affecting the babies’ testicles. The study determined that the chemical seems to disrupt hormone activity.

Her study raises suspicion about the safety of phthalates, which is a chemical used in many everyday products.

Phthalates are the primary plasticizer used in many products because of its performance, cost, durability and overall product benefits. The chemical is an important ingredient in flexible vinyl products such as wiring and cabling, wall covering and flooring. Phthalates also are used in vinyl blood bags and IV tubing, and yes, even lipstick.

Dr. Richard SharpeRichard Sharpe a leading phthalate researcher in Edinburgh Scotland studied phthalate exposure in rats found abnormalities in the rats’ male offspring. However, when Dr. Sharpe tried the same experiment in monkeys, a species much closer to humans than rats, and found that the monkeys’ male offspring were normal.

Dr. Sharpe’s study illustrates the uncertainty in any definitive conclusions about the safety of phthalates. Yet, the Environmental Protection Agency recently put phthalates on a list of chemicals that “may present a risk” to the environment or human health.

Meanwhile, until a definite conclusion on the effects of phthalates can be drawn, the chemical will continue to be used in everyday life and people will continue to have trace amounts of phthalate in their systems.