Super Brief Background
As you may already know, phthalates are everywhere. They are chemicals used to make plastics, cosmetics, fragrances, toys, curtains, textiles and more. They help plastic be more malleable and are used as solvents in cosmetics and fragrances. It is impossible to avoid exposure, especially since you breathe, eat, and absorb phthalates.
While we have known for quite some time that phthalates can disrupt the human endocrine (think hormones, like thyroid, estrogen, insulin), reproductive, and cardiovascular systems, we continue to learn that developing children are more vulnerable to their effects. A new study found a pathway by which phthalate exposure in utero explains later neurodevelopmental problems in babies. This adds to the body of science arguing against continued production of and exposure to these chemicals.
What to look for on labels:
Plastics, including toys, table cloths, shades, flooring and more. Anything containing vinyl contains plasticizers like phthalates. When buying toys or even bedroom shades for my kids, I specifically look to avoid the words vinyl, PVC, or the number 3 in the triangular recycling symbol.
Cosmetics and nail polish. You have to read the label. There are several dozen phthalates out there– I just looked at some drugstore options (like what every teen out there is buying) and I found polyethylene terephthalate, as an example, in some lipstick. However, I was also pleasantly surprised by other drugstore brands, like Revlon, that did not have any concerning ingredients and actually had a high rating by the Environmental Working Group(EWG). If you have the time, you can always enter ingredients on their site or search for products meeting your requirements.
I used to be very careful with nail polish because it may be ingested while eating (ask my kids– they lament the mediocre quality but phthalate-free polishes I allow them to use). But now, some of the most popular brands, like OPI, have fantastic ratings on EWG. I still use caution because not every product, even within a brand, is made equally.
While this is good news and a desired result of research and consumer uproar, the reality is that non-phthalate plasticizers will replace phthalates in many products. When you come upon an unfamiliar ingredient, check it on a site like EWG or this ingredient de-coding site. I tend to trust Sephora clean labeled products, also, but I always read the ingredients. Trust but verify.
Clothing and fabrics. Who knew that our clothing contains plasticizers? Next time I think of buying jeans with a sheen or faux leather, I will make sure I purchase from eco friendly and socially conscious companies. As far back as the 1970s, people studied workers in faux leather factories and saw the neurologic, cardiac and hematologic effects from phthalate exposure. The longer their tenure, the worse their symptoms.
As an example of phthalate avoidance in day-to-day fabrics, let’s talk about mattress covers. Most people don’t do much research on mattress covers, but I do. It turns out that most– but not all– water proofing or allergy preventing mattress covers contain phthalates or non-pthalate plasticizers. Many products clearly boast PVC and phthalate free, and they win my money. Moreover, despite regulations (on children’s products) in nearly every country, one study discovered that 9 of 20 crib mattress covers contained phthalate levels higher than deemed safe by the US and EU. Similarly with shades and drapes. I checked all the materials and it was not easy. The more you look, the more you will see that phthalates are everywhere but so are phthalate-free alternatives.
Household Products. Avoid anything with fragrances or parfum. Sadly, I do not even use perfumes because phthalates are used to prolong their aromas. Unlisted odor enhancers, under the guise of fragrance or parfum probably contain phthalates. If not, they will specifically say so or the fragrance will be listed as plant-derived or natural. Some unwanted chemicals will likely slip through, but this due diligence is better than nothing. Sadly, I do not
Brief Takeaways
Read labels.
Avoid items with vinyl or PVC on the label. Avoid items with the number 3 recycling symbol.
Avoid plastics because they have plasticizers, like phthalates, or other unregulated replacement chemicals. Just as a reminder, like we discussed in a prior article, one of the reasons to avoid plastics is to keep away from phthalates.
Buy from eco-friendly and socially conscious companies.
Wash your hands!
It may feel disheartening that phthalates are impossible to avoid, but there is actually some good news. Companies are responding and if more people start asking questions, more manufacturers and government agencies will listen.
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References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57273-z#Sec2
Natalia Aldegunde-Louzao, Manuel Lolo-Aira, Carlos Herrero-Latorre, Phthalate esters in clothing: A review, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Volume 108,2024,104457,ISSN 1382-6689, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104457.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668924000978)
Milkov, L E et al. “Health status of workers exposed to phthalate plasticizers in the manufacture of artificial leather and films based on PVC resins.” Environmental health perspectives vol. 3 (1973): 175-8. doi:10.1289/ehp.7303175
Kazemi, Zahra et al. “Evaluation of pollutants in perfumes, colognes and health effects on the consumer: a systematic review.” Journal of environmental health science & engineering vol. 20,1 589-598. 3 Feb. 2022, doi:10.1007/s40201-021-00783-x
