Report recommends cumulative risk assessment for phthalates
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 31 2008 at 4:35 PM
Phthalates >>

A report from the National Research Council says that the Environmental Protection Agency should check if combined phthalate exposure could cause harmful human health effects, especially to the male reproductive system.

The report says that the study, known as cumulative risk assessment, should consider other chemicals that could possibly cause the same health effects as phthalates.

The National Research Council report was released as a response to an EPA request for a recommendation on whether the agency should carry out a cumulative risk assessment for phthalates, and if so, how it has to be framed. The report is only a recommendation to conduct an assessment, not a broad delineation of the adverse effects of phthalates.

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid and used in a wide variety of consumer products, such as medical equipments, cosmetics, children’s toys, and building materials. Phthalates are added to plastics in order to increase flexibility.

Studies have found widespread human exposure to multiple phthalates. Phthalates may potentially cause many health problems. Animal studies have indicated that some phthalates reduce testosterone concentrations. In an experiment, rats were exposed to various phthalates and it caused them infertility, undescended testes, malformation of the penis, and other reproductive tract malformations.

The U.S. government has passed legislation that limits the amounts of many phthalates in children’s toys. The European Union has banned quite a few phthalates from cosmetics.

Comments