TY - JOUR
T1 - Consumer products as sources of chemical exposures to children
T2 - Case study of triclosan
AU - Ginsberg, Gary L.
AU - Balk, Sophie J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Purpose of review: Consumer products are often overlooked as sources of children's exposures to toxic chemicals. Various regulatory bodies have developed lists of chemicals of concern that can be found in products contacted by children. However, this information has not been summarized for health practitioners. This review organizes such chemicals and products into four categories, with the antibacterial agent triclosan used to illustrate the potential risks to children from a common ingredient in consumer products. Recent findings: Biomonitoring, house dust, indoor air, and product testing document children's exposures to a wide variety of chemicals. An increasing number of epidemiology studies have shown associations between these exposures and health effects in children. Triclosan is an example of a chemical contained in high contact products (e.g., soaps, lotions, and toothpaste) not necessarily designed for children. Triclosan exposure in children has been associated with increased responsiveness to airway allergens, with it also capable of endocrine disruption. However, the utility and necessity of this chemical in consumer products has not been demonstrated in most cases. Summary: Triclosan and the other examples provided show that a changing marketplace with little regulatory oversight of chemical uses can lead to unanticipated exposures and potential health risks to children.
AB - Purpose of review: Consumer products are often overlooked as sources of children's exposures to toxic chemicals. Various regulatory bodies have developed lists of chemicals of concern that can be found in products contacted by children. However, this information has not been summarized for health practitioners. This review organizes such chemicals and products into four categories, with the antibacterial agent triclosan used to illustrate the potential risks to children from a common ingredient in consumer products. Recent findings: Biomonitoring, house dust, indoor air, and product testing document children's exposures to a wide variety of chemicals. An increasing number of epidemiology studies have shown associations between these exposures and health effects in children. Triclosan is an example of a chemical contained in high contact products (e.g., soaps, lotions, and toothpaste) not necessarily designed for children. Triclosan exposure in children has been associated with increased responsiveness to airway allergens, with it also capable of endocrine disruption. However, the utility and necessity of this chemical in consumer products has not been demonstrated in most cases. Summary: Triclosan and the other examples provided show that a changing marketplace with little regulatory oversight of chemical uses can lead to unanticipated exposures and potential health risks to children.
KW - consumer products
KW - endocrine disruptors
KW - flame retardants
KW - phthalates
KW - triclosan
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84960416042&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84960416042&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000329
DO - 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000329
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26867165
AN - SCOPUS:84960416042
SN - 1040-8703
VL - 28
SP - 235
EP - 242
JO - Current Opinion in Pediatrics
JF - Current Opinion in Pediatrics
IS - 2
ER -