title: Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laboratory and human studies raise concerns about endocrine disruption and asthma resulting from exposure to chemicals in consumer products. Limited labeling or testing information is available to evaluate products as exposure sources.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We analytically quantified endocrine disruptors and asthma-related chemicals in a range of cosmetics, personal care products, cleaners, sunscreens, and vinyl products. We also evaluated whether product labels provide information that can be used to select products without these chemicals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 213 commercial products representing 50 product types. We tested 42 composited samples of high-market-share products, and we tested 43 alternative products identified using criteria expected to minimize target compounds. Analytes included parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan, ethanolamines, alkylphenols, fragrances, glycol ethers, cyclosiloxanes, and ultraviolet (UV) filters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected 55 compounds, indicating a wide range of exposures from common products. Vinyl products contained > 10% bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and could be an important source of DEHP in homes. In other products, the highest concentrations and numbers of detects were in the fragranced products (e.g., perfume, air fresheners, and dryer sheets) and in sunscreens. Some products that did not contain the well-known endocrine-disrupting phthalates contained other less-studied phthalates (dicyclohexyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, and di-n-propyl phthalate; also endocrine-disrupting compounds), suggesting a substitution. Many detected chemicals were not listed on product labels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Common products contain complex mixtures of EDCs and asthma-related compounds. Toxicological studies of these mixtures are needed to understand their biological activity. Regarding epidemiology, our findings raise concern about potential confounding from co-occurring chemicals and misclassification due to variability in product composition. Consumers should be able to avoid some target chemicals-synthetic fragrances, BPA, and regulated active ingredients-using purchasing criteria. More complete product labeling would enable consumers to avoid the rest of the target chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Silent Spring Institute, Newton, Massachusetts 02458, USA. dodson@silentspring.org
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Laurel J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Standley
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Perovich
authors.forename: Julia Green
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Ruthann A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rudel
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000032:analysis; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010226:Parabens / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D011356:Product Labeling; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003358:Cosmetics; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010226:Parabens; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds