Recently, phthalates (pronounced ‘thalates’) were banned from cosmetics by the European Union. They are commonly used in nail enamel to inhibit chipping by making the polish more flexible. They have also been banned in Europe for use in baby bottles and toys and teething rings as the ingredient was used to make plastic more flexible. What is not commonly known is that phthalates are very widely used in the perfume industry.

Due to the highly secretive nature of this industry, fragrance manufacturers are not compelled to declare their ingredient listing which makes it tricky for the consumer to know what exactly is being used to create the fragrances and other perfumed products that can be so compelling to use. In September 2000, the Centre for Disease control and Prevention in U.S.A reported that seven types of phthalates had been detected in the 289 people that were tested. During the analysis of this information, it came to light that women of childbearing age had the highest concentration of phthalates, specifically dibutyl phthalate (DBT) in their bodies. It was speculated that cosmetics might be the source of contamination. In a study that was published in November 2000 by the Environmental Working Group, DBT was indeed found in popular nail care products like enamels, top coats and hardeners. Later, this organisation found alarming concentrations of phthalates in perfumes. In 2002, an intensive study revealed that 52 out of 72 randomly selected mass-market products (e.g fragrances and fragranced body lotions) contained phthalates. These chemicals have been proven to penetrate the skin and nail bed. Once inside the tissues of the body, they mimic oestrogen, but are infinitely more potent. Dibutyl phthalate has been linked to permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system of babies, as a result of exposure whilst in utero. Some fragrances tested contained diethyl phthalate (DEP) in concentrations as high as 28 000 parts per million. That equates to almost 3% of total formulation. Until consumers become more aware of these toxins, cosmetic manufacturers will continue to use questionably chemicals.

Your first step is to refer to the research that The Environmental Working Group has gone to great lengths to produce. There is a website where you can research what goes in to mass-market products – go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com There is also good information at www.safecosmetics.org or search ‘Not too pretty’ which will give you more information on the intensive study on phthalates in cosmetics. By being aware of the ingredients you will now be able to make better decisions about the products you use and minimise your exposure to harmful chemicals.