The journal Pediatrics is reporting today that babies recently exposed to widely used shampoos, lotions and powders had elevated levels of compounds suspected of causing reproductive and endocrine abnormalities.

Although immediately denounced by a chemical industry trade group, the new study adds to a steadily growing body of evidence suggesting that phthalates are absorbed into the body and have potentially serious effects. That's important because the compounds are found in so many products, including soft plastic toys, shower curtains, personal-care items and cosmetics.

"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal-care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," said the study's lead author, Sheela Sathyanarayana, an acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

"This is troubling," she said, "because phthalate exposure in early childhood has been associated with altered hormone concentrations as well as increased allergies, runny nose and eczema."

Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri biology professor who has studied other endocrine-disrupting compounds, was much less cautious in his assessment.

The phthalate levels found in some of the infants were "nothing short of horrifying," he said. It's critical because infants are building organs, and could feel lifelong ramifications of early toxic exposures. High levels of phthalates in infants can lead to "the whole masculinization process being disrupted."

The rate of adult testicular cancer has been "ballistically increasing," he said, and has been closely associated with undescended testicles in children, which in turn has been related to high phthalate levels.

The American Chemistry Council issued a statement dismissing the study.

"We take great exception to any effort to draw unfounded conclusions that suggest human health risks are associated with the mere presence of very low levels of metabolized phthalates in urine. In 50 or more years of use, no reliable evidence has ever been found that phthalates, either alone or in combination, cause negative health effects in humans," said Marian Stanley, manager of the council's phthalates esters panel.

Sathyanarayana and her team studied urine samples from 163 babies ranging from two months to 28 months old, measured the levels of nine different phthalates, and questioned the mothers about their use of infant-care products in the preceding 24 hours.

Every baby had a detectable level of at least one phthalate, and 81 percent of them had detectable levels of at least seven. The correlation between recent product use and the presence of phthalates was highest in the children younger than eight months of age.

Important questions remain about phthalates, Sathyanarayana said.

"I can't answer if these are truly causing health effects," she said. "Some data show yes, but we need more."

In one especially intriguing study Sathyanarayana cited from Denmark, researchers measured the levels of male reproductive hormones in a group of babies younger than three months of age. Then they studied samples of their mothers' breast milk for a number of phthalate compounds.

They found a "subtle but significant" relationship that was dose-dependent. That means that the higher the level of phthalate in breast milk, the lower the level of male hormones in the baby boys.

"The primary concern in human exposures is for baby boys in the womb and newborns with developing reproductive systems," said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at the Environmental Working Group.

There are many different phthalates, and they're found in widely differing products. But Sathyanarayana said that, while studies have focused on one source, such as breast milk, people are exposed to many sources, such as soft plastic hospital equipment and vinyl flooring.

"All of the sources are important," she said.

Vom Saal said the accumulation of evidence indicting phthalates is such that "the position of the U.S. government is untenable at this point. The Europeans acted on these chemicals a decade ago."

In fact, he testified in Europe about the dangers of phthalates.

"This is a wake-up call that during the most sensitive time in life, during the fetal life and this infant period, that babies are being exposed to high levels of these chemicals. The manufacturers of these products have a responsibility to parents to remove chemicals that are hazardous."

Baby products are troublesome because they don't specifically list phthalates as an ingredient, Houlihan said. They may be part of a fragrance, added in most cases to keep ingredients evenly mixed.

Because it's not clear which products contain phthalates, she said, "You can't easily shop your way out of this."

The Working Group tested many personal-care products - mostly marketed at adults - and found phthalates in three quarters of them, Houlihan said. In some cases, phthalates were up to 5 percent by weight of the contents.

Houlihan suggested that concerned parents look for baby products without any added fragrance. She suggested minimizing use of the products associated with higher phthalate levels in urine, and using powder and lotion only if medically indicated, and using as little shampoo as possible.

The chemistry council characterized that recommendation as "an extreme and unnecessary measure that is not supported by existing science."

Better options - and information - may be forthcoming. A couple of organizations have been testing baby products for phthalates, and will release their findings soon, Sathyanarayana said.

To reach Karen Uhlenhuth, call 816-234-4783 or send e-mail to kuhlenhuth@kcstar.com [1]