Sanitary Pads and Diapers Contain Higher Phthalate Contents Than Those in Common Commercial Plastic Products

Overview

Journal Reprod Toxicol

Specialties Reproductive Medicine
Toxicology

Date 2019 Jan 20

PMID 30659930

Citations 15

Authors

Chan Jin Park

Radwa Barakat

Alexander Ulanov

Zhong Li

Po-Ching Lin

Karen Chiu

Sherry Zhou

Pablo Perez

Jungyeon Lee

Jodi Flaws

CheMyong Jay Ko

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sanitary pads and diapers are made of synthetic plastic materials that can potentially be released while being used. This study measured the amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene) and phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP, and BBP) contained in sanitary pads and diapers. In sanitary pads, 5,900- and 130-fold differences of VOC and phthalate concentrations were seen among the brands. In the diapers, 3- and 63-fold differences of VOC and phthalate concentrations were detected among the brands. VOC concentrations from the sanitary pads and diapers were similar to that of the residential air. However, phthalate concentrations of sanitary pads and diapers were significantly higher than those found in common commercial plastic products. As sanitary pads and diapers are in direct contact with external genitalia for an extended period, there is a probability that a considerable amount of VOCs or phthalates could be absorbed into the reproductive system.

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