Are Pillow Cases, Shower Curtains, and Diapers Harmful?

It’s not all that surprising that household cleaners, cosmetics and similar products contain potentially harmful chemicals. Yet, were you aware that some of your every-day, rather unobtrusive products may also contain those same harmful toxins that could adversely affect your health?

As reported last year in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, 55 potentially dangerous chemical compounds were detected in some unsuspected mainstream products such as pillow protectors, diapers, toothpaste, shower curtains, dryer sheets, and body wash. Some of these adverse effects include endocrine system disruption that is associated with asthma, poor development of the nervous system and slower metabolism, and a connection to increased cancer risks.

The interesting part about these chemical compounds was that they weren’t reported on the product label. In fact, products such as these do not have to come with a product ingredient label. In other words, if a chemical was added to your pillow protector, that chemical did not have to be disclosed on the label.

What’s more interesting is that this study also tested “alternative” products that were labeled as “green” or “natural” and still toxic chemicals were detected – although not nearly at the same concentration levels as traditional consumer products.

The research, which was presented at this year’s Annual American Public Health Associations’ conference in Boston earlier this month, found a wide range of phthalates, alkylphenols, parabens, and PCBs as well as flame retardants and some banned pesticides in the products that were laboratory tested. While some of the levels of these chemicals were low and tested within safe exposure ranges, the researchers noted that multiple products in the same home combined together may present unsafe exposures to these toxic chemicals.

Here is a run-down of these chemicals:

Phthalates are used in many plastic-type products to increase their durability and flexibility. When ingested or inhaled, they can cause problems with developing endocrine and reproductive systems. In particular, high levels of the phthalate known as DEHP have been linked with severe reproductive system development as well as obesity.

Alkylphenols are used ad additives for fuels and lubricants and are commonly used in the cosmetic industry. Of interest, the European Union has implemented restrictions on the use of alkylphenols because of the high toxicity. The chemical mimics estrogen and when in the system can be harmful to the reproductive system as well as immune system, especially in children.

Parabens are commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics. In small amounts as if often used in the cosmetic industry, these are harmful. However, higher doses and exposures to them has been linked to certain forms of breast cancer.

PCBs stands for Polychlorinated Biphenyls, which have been shown to cause a variety of health effects, in particular cancer. They have also been linked to disruptions in the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.

Antimicrobials are antibiotics that have become so ubiquitous that they are often ineffective against bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control reports that antimicrobials in products may not actually kill germs as intended because of our growing antibiotic-resistance to infections. The use of this chemical may be a moot point for its originally intended purpose, thus, leaving us at an increased risk for disease.

Probably the biggest take-away from the study was the need for improved product safety reporting measures. There is a huge push from environmental health experts for full product disclosure; the government is slow to respond. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is limit your exposure by using more natural products, or a lesser amount of mainstream products. Furthermore, you can always contact the company to request full disclosures of product ingredients.

A handful of Tested Products and their chemical additives:

Product	Chemicals Detected		Exposure Level		Adverse Health Effects
	Mainstream version	Alternative Version	Mainstream Version	Alternative Version
Pillow Protector	Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate - DEHP	Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phtalate	> 1,000 µg/g	> 1-100 µg/g	Poor reproductive health; asthma/endocrine health
	Other Phthalates	--	> 1-100 µg/g	--	Poor reproductive health and endocrine system development
	Alkylphenols	Alkylphenols	> 1-100 µg/g	> 1-100 µg/g	Poor reproductive health; immune system disruptions
Diapers	Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate - DEHP	--	> 1-100 µg/g	--	Poor reproductive health; asthma/endocrine health
	Alkylphenols	--	> 1-100 µg/g	--	Poor reproductive health; immune system disruptions
Toothpaste	Antimicrobials	--	> 100-1000 µg/g	--	Ineffective against bacteria, potentially causing immune system disruption
	Methyl salicylate	--	> 100-1000 µg/g	--	Asthma, skin irritation, nasal polyps
	Eugenol	--	> 1-100 µg/g	> 1-100 µg/g	Liver damage; digestive issues
	--	Alkylphenols	--	> 1-100 µg/g	Poor reproductive health; immune system disruptions
Body Wash*	Benzyl acetate	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	GI irritation; respiratory issues; cancers
	Hexyl cinnemal	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Immune system disruptions; respiratory issues
	Linalool	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Immune system disruptions; respiratory issues
	HHCB	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Reproductive health
	Diethyl phthalate	N/A	> 1-100 µg/g	N/A	Liver damage; poor reproductive health
Shower Curtain (vinyl)*	Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate - DEHP	N/A	> 1,000 µg/g	N/A	Poor reproductive health; asthma/endocrine health
	Bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Poor reproductive health; asthma/endocrine health
	Bisphenol A (BPA)	N/A	> 1-100 µg/g	N/A	Disruption of immune, nervous and reproductive systems
	Alkylphenol (4-t-Octylphenol)	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Altered sex hormones, hypothalamic-pituitary suppression, poor reproductive outcomes
Dryer Sheets*	Methylionone	N/A	> 1,000  µg/g	N/A	Skin irritation; respiratory distress; no long-term chronic efforts have been studied (unknown)
	Bucinal	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Endocrine system disruption (asthma)
	Phenethyl alcohol	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Endocrine system disruption (asthma)
	Other Fragrances	N/A	> 1-100 µg/g	N/A	Endocrine system disruption (asthma)
	Phthalates	N/A	> 1-100 µg/g	N/A	Poor reproductive health and endocrine system development
	Diethanolamine	N/A	> 100-1000 µg/g	N/A	Respiratory distress/asthma
	Alkylphenol (4-t-Octylphenol)	N/A	> 1-100 µg/g	N/A	Altered sex hormones, hypothalamic-pituitary suppression, poor reproductive outcomes

 *No natural version of these were tested

References:

 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2013). Diethyl Phthalate. Retrieved from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=112

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). National Biomonitoring Program. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Octylphenol_BiomonitoringSummary.html.

Dodson, R. E., Nishioka, M., Standley, L. J., Perovich, L. J., Brody, J. G., & Rudel, R. A. (2012). Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(7), 935-943.

EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. (2013). Hexyl cinnemal. Retrieved from http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702841/HEXYL_CINNAMAL/.

EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. (2013). Linalool. Retrieved from http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703568/LINALOOL/

Health Central. (n.d.). Methyl salicylate-Menthol Top precautions and side effects. Retrieved from http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/r/medications/methyl-salicylate-menthol-top-18536/side-effects

Healthy Child Healthy World. (2013). Chemical. Retrieved from http://healthychild.org/easy-steps/avoid-alkylphenol-ethoxylates-apes-in-cleaning-products-and-more/.

Mayo Clinic. (2013). What is BPA and what are the concerns about BPA? Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bpa/AN01955

Spectrum Chemical. (n.d.) Methylionone Material Safety Data Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.spectrumchemical.com/MSDS/TCI-M0363.pdf

Toxicology Data Network. (n.d.). Benzyl Acetate. Retrieved from http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+2851

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2013). Cosmetics: Parabens. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/selectedcosmeticingredients/ucm128042.htm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Health effects of PCBs. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/effects.htm.