Black and Latinx Women Are Disproportionately Exposed to These Dangerous Chemicals
Phthalates are a neurotoxin that can be found in many household, personal care, and beauty products
A group of public health and environmental researchers are calling for an immediate ban on a group of chemical compounds known to harm women and children — and especially women and children of color.
In a paper published in the American Journal of Public Health in February, the group, comprised of researchers from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Harvard University, Columbia University, and other institutions, called for a complete ban of ortho-phthalates in consumer products.
Phthalates, as the group is often abbreviated, are ubiquitous in our everyday lives. They are used in everything from agricultural equipment to medical supplies to cosmetics. A known neurotoxin, they are linked to learning, attention, and behavioral issues in children through direct or prenatal exposure.
But these risks aren’t equally felt. A 2017 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women of color have far more exposure to phthalates that come from beauty products than White women. And the researchers behind the latest paper on phthalates are encouraging that specific attention be paid to reducing exposure to Black and Latinx women.
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