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. 2013 Mar;23(2):197-206.
doi: 10.1038/jes.2012.105. Epub 2012 Nov 21.

Women's exposure to phthalates in relation to use of personal care products

Lauren E Parlett  1 , Antonia M Calafat, Shanna H Swan
Affiliations

Women's exposure to phthalates in relation to use of personal care products

Lauren E Parlett et al. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Several phthalates, particularly diethyl phthalate (DEP) and di-n-butyl phthalate, can be used in personal care products (PCPs) to fix fragrance and hold color. We investigated associations between women's reported use of PCPs within the 24 h before urine collection and concentrations of several urinary phthalate metabolites. Between 2002 and 2005, 337 women provided spot urine samples and answered questions regarding their use of 13 PCPs at a follow-up visit 3-36 months after pregnancy. We examined associations between urinary concentrations of several phthalate metabolites and use of PCPs using linear regression. Use of individual PCPs ranged from 7% (nail polish) to 91% (deodorant). After adjusting for age, education, and urinary creatinine, women reporting use of perfume had 2.92 times higher (95% CI: 2.20-3.89) concentration of monoethyl phthalate (MEP; the primary metabolite of DEP) than other women. Other PCPs that were significantly associated with MEP concentrations included: hair spray, nail polish, and deodorant. MEP concentrations increased with the number of PCPs used. PCP use was widespread in this group of recently pregnant women. Women's use of PCPs, particularly of perfumes and fragranced products, was positively associated with urinary concentration of multiple phthalate metabolites.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Number of Phthalate Metabolites above LOD in Urine Samples (N=377)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Number of Products Reported to be Used within Past 24 Hours
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The change in select phthalate metabolite median concentrations in relation to the total number of personal care products used in the past 24 hours
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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