Interventions to Reduce Exposure to Synthetic Phenols and Phthalates from Dietary Intake and Personal Care Products: a Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review A scoping review was conducted to identify interventions that successfully alter biomarker concentrations of phenols, glycol ethers, and phthalates resulting from dietary intake and personal care product (PCPs) use. Recent Findings Twenty-six interventions in populations ranging from children to older adults were identified; 11 actively removed or replaced products, 9 provided products containing the chemicals being studied, and 6 were education-only based interventions. Twelve interventions manipulated only dietary intake with a focus on bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, 8 studies intervened only on PCPs use and focused on a wider range of chemicals including BPA, phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and ultraviolet absorbers, while 6 studies intervened on both diet and PCPs and focused on phthalates, parabens, and BPA and its alternatives. No studies assessed glycol ethers. All but five studies reported results in the expected direction, with interventions removing potential sources of exposures lowering EDC concentrations and interventions providing exposures increasing EDC concentrations. Short interventions lasting a few days were successful. Barriers to intervention success included participant compliance and unintentional contamination of products. Summary The identified interventions were generally successful but illustrated the influence of participant motivation, compliance, ease of intervention adherence, and the difficulty of fully removing exposures due their ubiquity and the difficulties of identifying “safer” replacement products. Policy which reduces or removes EDC in manufacturing and processing across multiple sectors, rather than individual behavior change, may have the greatest impact on population exposure.

Effects of Behavioral, Clinical, and Policy Interventions in Reducing Human Exposure to Bisphenols and Phthalates: A Scoping Review

“…However, we did find several studies reported findings where the intervention did not have a significant effect on all target chemicals, 88 and one intervention led to an increase in exposure. 89 While the number of intervention studies aimed at reducing EDC exposures in general is increasing and are the topic of other recent reviews, 81 – 83 our study focused specifically on phthalates and the most common bisphenols and examined multiple types of interventions, not just dietary or medical. We further did not limit our review to a specific stage in the life course.…”

“…If a discrepancy arose, the two team members discussed the issue(s), and any remaining discrepancies were then discussed among all authors so a consensus could be reached. We additionally cross-checked the reference lists of all included papers and related reviews 81 – 83 to ensure that all relevant studies were captured in our review. Any identified articles were entered into CADIMA and underwent the same process of screening using the selection criteria discussed above.…”

Bisphenol A—What Do We Know? A Global or Local Approach at the Public Health Risk Level

“…Unfortunately, there is a widespread increasing presence of BPA in everyday items (e.g., food containers, food packaging film, toys, pens, kitchen utensils, medical products/devices, dental supplies, cosmetic supplies, personal care products, toothpaste, medications, helmets, cell phones, thermal paper (e.g., receipts, tickets, boarding passes), construction materials, CD/DVDs, and many others [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 11 , 13 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 27 , 38 , 78 , 79 , 80 ]. They are commonly used as plasticizers, solvents, fixatives, color developers (in thermal paper), cigarette filters, antimicrobial agents, or commonly used preservatives [ 13 , 68 , 80 , 110 ].…”

“…2023/2006; (EC) 1907/2006; (EC) No. 1935/2004), among others, are still of great concern with regard to BPA, as they do not take into account the latest knowledge on, for example, dose–response relationships, mixtures resulting from the joint use of products, and exposure effects occurring at different stages of human development [ 110 ]. Meanwhile, Commission Regulation (EU) No.…”

“…Meanwhile, action in the manufacturing and packaging sector could reduce its health effects in the broadest way with the lowest burden [ 110 , 120 , 122 , 123 ]. The harmful health effects of BPA have caused great concern among many scientists and the public, which has at least resulted in a ban on the sale of plastic products used on infants and young children [ 3 , 79 ].…”