Toxic Baby-Care Products: Truth or Fiction? I’ve heard from many concerned parents about the issue of phthalates (a group of chemical compounds used in plastics and as fragrance stabilizers) and their alleged health effects on children. The monthly journal Pediatrics published results of a study done in Seattle that analyzed urine samples from 163 infants for the presence of phthalate metabolites. The results indicated that many common baby-care products (lotions, shampoo, powder) may be to blame. The researchers found the presence of at least one phthalate metabolite in every urine sample, while 81% of the samples had measurable amounts of more than one phthalate. Infants exposed to multiple products tended to have the highest level of phthalate metabolites in their urine, suggesting that the products may be to blame. Since phthalates are used in many fragrances (and most baby products are heavily fragranced, often more so than skin-care products aimed at adults) it was natural to assume that this multiple fragrance exposure via topical application was the culprit. Interestingly, the lead researcher on the study had only poor advice for parents: use baby-care products less often or only if deemed medically necessary. How practical is that? A far better directive would be to instruct parents to shop for fragrance-free baby-care products, and demand that companies not offering such options do so for the health and safety of their children. Why that wasn’t even hinted at by the researchers behind this study is very frustrating. The Personal Care Products Council (formerly the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association) issued a rebuttal to the study in Pediatrics, stating that the results “do not make sense because only one of the seven phthalate compounds reported is even used in baby care products. This suggests that most of the phthalates found in the urine samples came from another route of exposure…” The phthalate that is used in fragrances added to baby-care products is diethyl phthalate (DEP). Interestingly, several cosmetic ingredient advisory boards, including the stringent Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (which advises regulatory boards in the European Union) have deemed DEP to be safe as used. An exhaustive evaluation of the research on this chemical has not shown it to be a reproductive toxin or endocrine disruptor. The Personal Care Products Council also pointed out that the researchers responsible for this study did not test any baby-care products for the presence of phthalates (they only examined urine samples) and did not account for other potential means of exposure. All of this points to a study that, while intriguing as a sensationalized headline, isn’t reason to stop using baby-care products or worry that your child is going to suffer adverse health effects. Whether or not phthalate exposure at any age causes long-term health problems in humans is suspected but not unequivocally confirmed. Scientists studying these ingredients point out research on animals that has shown links to reproductive and developmental toxicity resulting from phthalate exposure. Sources for the above: www.reuters.com; www.personalcarecouncil.org; and Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, July 2007, pages 899-911). 
 NEUTROGENA Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment ($7.99 for 2 ounces) gets Neutrogena back into the BHA game, and it’s about time! Most of their previous BHA products either contained irritating ingredients (particularly alcohol and menthol) or had a pH that was too high for effective exfoliation to take place. This version contains 2% salicylic acid at a pH of 3.4, and comes in a nearly weightless silicone base that includes antioxidants and anti-irritants. Although the inclusion of fragrance and coloring agents is a slight disappointment, it’s a relief that Neutrogena omitted menthol or its derivatives, making this an all-around ideal BHA lotion for skin of any type battling blemishes. Find it!
I read in a magazine that inexpensive shampoos tend to work best on oily hair (the surfactants are stronger than those in pricier brands) and to boost the volume of fine or normal hair. Is this true? Leslee, via e-mail Dear Leslee, Did you happen to notice that almost all of the hair-care products mentioned in that article were from specialty or department store lines (read: expensive)? It is a myth that drugstore shampoos use inferior or stronger detergent cleansing agents. Think about the times you have purchased an expensive hair-care product expecting it to be better than what you would find at the drugstore, only to be disappointed with the results. More often than not, all shampoos and conditioners are similarly formulated across the board. This is because, regardless of the line and its claims, there are only so many ingredients that can cleanse and condition the hair, and every cosmetic company has to choose from this limited group. All the rest is window dressing, and is created to appeal to what the consumer wants, whether it's "all-natural," "aromatherapy," "minty," or you name it.
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