Newborn chemical exposure from over-the-counter skin care products.
Human exposure to potentially toxic environmental chemicals is a major concern to our society. Over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products are a potential source of environmental chemical exposure to newborns. A prospective study was undertaken to define existing newborn bathing practices and quantitate environmental chemical exposure from OTC skin care products. One hundred-ninety six mothers of infants discharged from our newborn nursery were asked to respond to a questionnaire concerning newborn bathing practices and OTC skin care product usage. Complete questionnaires were returned by 23% of the mothers. The average newborn had 8 +/- 3 (+/- SEM) skin care products applied with the resultant exposure to 48 +/- 18 different environmental chemicals. Forty-seven percent of our respondents used a baby powder. The average one month old was bathed 4 times a week and was shampooed 3 times weekly. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents reported that their newborn had a rash but only 45% of those reporting a rash sought professional medical advice. Thirty-seven percent of the mothers reporting a rash made a change in bathing practice or product selection. In view of our findings, the human newborn is exposed to a large number of environmental chemicals thorough topical OTC preparations. The efficacy, transcutaneous absorption and potential toxicity of these products should be investigated.
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Department of Internal Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
Lambert
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Ros
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D001494:Baths; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009824:Ointments / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012869:Skin Absorption; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D009824:Ointments