Nail polish on a woman’s hand. Image by Tim Sandle.
Despite growing public awareness of the dangers posed by phthalates, exposure to these harmful chemicals remains widespread in the U.S. The chemicals are in a wide number of products used by women, including nail polish.
To explore this issue further, a $2.8 million grant has been awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences.
With this, researchers will delve deeper into the molecular and cellular effects of phthalates, with the goal of identifying ways to block or even reverse their harmful impact.
Phthalates are a class of chemical compounds widely used in industrial applications, such as plasticizers to increase durability and flexibility in polymers like PVC – meaning they can be found in common household plastic products like shower curtains and food packaging. Beyond plastics, phthalates are also used as binding agents in everyday products like cosmetics, deodorants, fragrances and cleaning solutions.
Several countries have established restrictions and regulations on some types of phthalates; however, the U.S. has been slow to establish constraints or substitute measures for phthalates to reduce health risks.
Despite potential applications and widescale use, the issue with phthalates lies in their weak chemical bonds and how easily they can leach into water, soil and even the air we breathe. Research has shown these chemicals can be endocrine disruptors, which interfere with the body’s hormone system and contribute to potential reproductive, neurological, developmental and immune issues.
“When you look at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, women consistently show higher levels of specific phthalates than men,” states Zelieann Craig, principal investigator on the grant and an associate professor. “It’s not just makeup, it’s systemic.”
Women of reproductive age have been identified as particularly vulnerable to phthalate exposure, a risk attributed to their higher use of phthalatecontaining personal care products, certain medications, and increased likelihood of occupational exposure.
“The ongoing hypothesis is that women are exposed to more products that contain phthalates,” Craig explains. “Perfumes, cosmetics and personal care items are one piece, but medications like those for IBS or Crohn’s, which are conditions more prevalent in women, could also be a source.”
Craig emphasises that it’s important to view phthalate exposure as part of a broader landscape of environmental factors, and that individuals should not avoid necessary medications. “Some exposures we can’t avoid, so we make up for that by reducing other sources”.
Craig’s previous research concentrated on Dibutyl phthalate, a particularly pervasive phthalate that showed higher exposure levels in women. However, this new study shifts focus to phthalate mixtures that more accurately reflect realworld human exposure.
The study aims to not only confirm longterm exposure to phthalates causality in infertility and metabolic disease but explore how phthalates may increase harmful fatty acids in ovarian follicles and disrupt cellular energy metabolism. Beyond how phthalate exposure is happening, Craig’s longterm goals are focused on how to stop it or even reverse it.
