A top doctor has issued a plea to stop using cologne and perfume due to ‘irrefutable evidence’ they’re linked to cancer and infertility.
Dr Trisha Pasricha, a professor of medicine at Harvard, said that while a quick spritz may seem harmless, even small amounts of these products could contain harmful ‘forever chemicals.’
These substances have been dubbed forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the body, where they cause untold harms.
Dr Pasricha said the most worrying chemical in perfumes are phthalates, which are used to make their scent last longer.
Studies have shown they imitate the body’s hormones and interfere with the production of – and response to – natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
She pointed to a statement from the Endocrine Society, which said that these studies show ‘irrefutable evidence’ that endocrine disrupting chemicals lead to a variety of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, infertility, and several forms of cancer.
The FDA says it doesn’t have enough evidence ‘that phthalates used in cosmetics pose a safety risk’ and perfume companies are not required to disclose all of their ingredients. Some phthalates are banned or tightly regulated in the UK and Europe but many aren’t.
As the evidence mounts, Dr Pasricha advised to steer clear of fragrances altogether, especially if you have young children or are trying to get pregnant.
Dr Trisha Pasricha, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, warned against using personal care products with phthalates. Phthalates are synthetic chemicals meant to make plastic more durable and give shampoos a more flexible consistency. These are found in personal care products and even some ultra-processed foods
She told the Washington Post: ‘I recommend avoiding added fragrances altogether — in perfumes, scented lotions and shampoos, even scented detergents and antiperspirants.’” she said in an email interview.
Dr Pasricha cited a recent study of 200 adolescents in JAMA Network Open as a cause for concern.
The report round that higher urinary concentrations of phthalates found in personal care products like deodorant were linked to a 25 percent increased risk of hyperactivity issues.
And another study from the same group found that increased exposure to these chemicals was associated with worse performance in math, especially among those under more stress.
These concerns about childhood exposure led to certain phthalates being banned in children’s toys and child-care items like pacifiers and baby bottles.
Though at least nine commercially used phthalates are still authorized to be used in cosmetic products and food packaging and manufacturing.
Phthalates are added to plastics to make them pliable and soft and are used in thousands of products, from plastic food wrap to vinyl flooring, garden hoses and shower curtains.
They are also estimated to be in around three-quarters of scented personal care products like deodorants, nail polish, hair gels, shampoos, soaps and lotions.
The fact they are so abundant in beauty goods may partly explain why women consistently have higher levels in their bodies than men.
Recent research has also found that ethnic minority women in the US have higher exposure during pregnancy than their peers.
These chemicals have also been associated with fertility issues in both men and women.
One study in the journal Toxicological Sciences, for example, found that female mice exposed in the womb to the same phthalate mixtures detected in pregnant women were born with fertility issues, which they then passed on to their female offspring.
Additional research has found that higher levels of phthalates in women’s urine could reduce their likelihood of getting pregnant and increase their risk of pregnancy loss before 20 weeks gestation.
Meanwhile, a Polish study showed that phthalate exposure in men lowered their sperm quality and sperm count, decreasing the chance of conceiving.
Phthalates are also considered possible human carcinogens, meaning they can increase the risk of some forms of cancer, namely those linked to hormone production like thyroid and breast cancer.
A study in the journal Breast Cancer Research, for example, found that higher urinary levels of phthalates were associated with an up to 32 percent increased risk of breast hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
To reduce your exposure to phthalates, Dr Pasricha suggests opting for shampoos that are listed as ‘fragrance-free’ or ‘phthalate-free,’ as well as limiting canned and ultra-processed foods and avoiding heating plastic.
She wrote: ‘As a doctor, I know we sometimes need to pick our health-care battles wisely. But what we’re discovering about how exposure to EDCs impacts an individual’s sperm or egg cells is deeply concerning.’