A recent study in southern California found high levels of ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in the air. Plasticizers are chemical compounds that make materials more flexible. These chemicals can be found in a number of products ranging from plastic lunchboxes, tablecloths, rainwear, shower curtains, garden hoses, furniture and automobile upholstery, automobile interior materials, floor tiles, cosmetics, personal care products (e.g., nail polishes), food packaging materials, and medical devices and equipment. Nearly 500 million pounds of ortho-phthalates are produced or imported every year in the United States alone.

Innovative Air Monitoring Bracelets

The researchers used silicone bracelets that absorbed chemicals in the air, so wherever the wearers traveled the bracelets were slowly accumulating any air toxins. At the end of the five day period, the scientists chopped the wristbands into pieces, then analyzed the chemicals they contained.

For every gram of chopped-up wristband, the team found between 100,000 and 1 million nanograms of three phthalates, DiNP (Diisononyl Phthalate), DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate), and DEHT ((Di(2-ethylhexyl) Terephthalate). Ten total plasticizers were measured, but the levels of these three stood out.

How Can Phthalates Affect Your Health

For years we have known about the extensive impacts of phthalates on our health, especially for children. But we have mostly focused on consumption of phthalates in foods or when children chew on plastics. This study shows we are likely breathing in these chemicals everyday.

Exposure to DEHP has been documented to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. DEHP is on the Proposition 65 list because it can cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. According to the Centers for Disease Control DEHP can decrease testosterone and sperm motility in men and lead to preterm birth, altered timing of puberty in boys and girls, and delayed mental development for babies from pregnant women who are exposed.

Exposure to DiNP has a number of potential negative health impacts including cancer, liver or kidney toxicity, and increase mortality of fetuses. The US Environmental Protection Agency recently released a risk assessment summarizing the potential health and environmental impacts of DiNP. They identified identified developmental, liver, and kidney toxicity as the most sensitive and robust health impacts. More concerning is that the effects of DiNP on decreased testosterone in male fetuses can occur in as little as a week.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “DEHP is a colorless liquid with almost no odor. It does not evaporate easily, and little will be present in the air even near sources of production.” Yet at the same time, it was present in substantial amounts in this study. You can breathe in DEHP that has been released to the environment. The average air level of DEHP is very low, less than 2 parts of DEHP per trillion parts of air (ppt) in cities and industrial areas. DEHP levels in the indoor air in a room with recently installed flooring could be higher than levels in the outdoor air. They also state that “Breathing DEHP does not appear to have serious harmful effects.” However, over time DEHP is a potential carcinogen, and may impact the liver and testes.

Insufficient Phthalate Monitoring and Policies

Prior California-specific biomonitoring programs for ortho-phthalates have focused on rural, agricultural communities and these programs have not measured the potential for exposure to non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers.

Both DiNP and DEHP are included on California's Proposition 65 list, which contains chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. DEHT was introduced as an alternative, but its effects on human health have not been well studied.

This study suggests that introducing DEHT also has not done much to reduce the public's level of exposure to DiNP or DEHP.

US EPA recently determined that for DiNP there are three significant risks. The two worker uses that EPA identified as preliminarily contributing to unreasonable risk involved unprotected workers using spray adhesives and sealants or paints and coatings that contain DINP with high-pressure sprayers. This is because doing so could create high concentrations of DINP in mist that an unprotected worker could inhale. EPA identified one consumer use as preliminarily contributing to unreasonable risk to infants, toddlers, and preschool children under the age of 5 who may be exposed to dust containing DINP that migrated from floor coverings and building and construction materials, such as vinyl flooring, in-place wallpaper, and carpet backing. While this is a step, the piecemeal approach is not strong enough to result in comprehensive reductions in these chemicals.