The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Syntetisk mysk och ftalater i parfymerade konsumentprodukter - Bör gravida kvinnor i Sverige uppmanas att använda oparfymerade skönhetsprodukter?

Author

  • Amanda Sahlin

Summary, in English

Fragrances have been used in cosmetics for more than fifty years and most substances in scents can just be grouped under the term "parfume" on product labels. Synthetic musk compounds and phthalates are both used in perfumes, cosmetics and other consumer products. Phthalates can be absorbed by the human body and have been found in examined blood, breast milk and urine. Fetuses can be exposed to phthalates through their mothers and younger children through breast feeding. Prenatal exposure to phthalates has been proven, among other things, to affect testicular function and shorten the AGD (anogenital distance) in humans and rodents. Synthetic musk compounds have been found in breast milk and since the substances are bioaccumulative and dissolves in organic materials, there is a risk of higher levels in human fatty tissues. Infants can ingest lower doses of synthetic musk through breastfeeding and through their mothers. The Environmental Protection Agency in Denmark has chosen to inform the Danish population about the risks of endocrine disrupters and Danish pregnant women are encouraged to use unscented products. The synthetic musk compound musk xylene is included, with some phthalates, on the European Chemicals Agency candidate list of substances which is published in Annex XIV of REACH. This study shows that pregnant women, fertile women, and the rest of the Swedish population should be informed about the possible risks associated with the use of these substances in cosmetics and other consumer products as a precaution. Swedish pregnant women should be advised to use unscented consumer products in order to limit the exposure to some phthalates and synthetic musk compounds. Furthermore, one should develop international criteria and toxicological tests to determine and test the suspected endocrine disruptors. Substances proven to be harmful should be rapidly evacuated from the community whether it is economically reasonable or not.

Department/s

  • Studies in Environmental Science

Publishing year

2015

Language

Swedish

Document type

Student publication for Bachelor's degree

Topic

  • Earth and Environmental Sciences

Keywords

  • synthetic musk
  • phthalates
  • pregnancy

Supervisor

  • Maria Hansson (Universitetslektor)