Baby Shampoo Awash in Chemicals?

Use of Some Infant Products Linked to Higher Levels of Phthalates in Babies, but Health Risks Disputed

By [1] Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News

Reviewed by [2] Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 4, 2008 — New research suggests a link between the use of baby lotions, powders, and shampoos and higher levels of potentially harmful manmade chemicals known as phthalates in infants.

Researchers reported that babies exposed to all three products had levels of three different phthalate metabolites that were five times higher than babies whose mothers reported using none of the products.

All the infants in the study had evidence of at least one phthalate metabolite in their urine, even if they had no exposure to baby lotions, powders, or shampoos.

And the baby products were not tested, so it was not clear if they actually contained phthalates or if their use contributed to the phthalate levels seen in the babies.

But researcher Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, of the University of Washington, Seattle tells WebMD that the strong association between use of the baby products and higher phthalate levels suggests that the products may be an important source of exposure. [3]