A common chemical in personal hygiene products like soap and shampoo can raise a woman’s risk of developing diabetes by over 60 percent, new research reveals. Researchers from the University of Michigan say those with higher levels of phthalates in their urine are 30 to 63 percent more likely to develop the metabolic disease.
Phthalates improve the durability of plastics. They are common in personal care products, children’s toys, and food and beverage packaging. Phthalates are even an ingredient in fragrances to help the scent last longer on the skin.
However, scientists also call them endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDRs) because they mimic estrogen. Studies have linked them to breast and ovarian cancer, as well as an early menopause.
“Our research found phthalates may contribute to a higher incidence of diabetes in women, especially White women, over a six-year period,” says Sung Kyun Park, Sc.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in a media release. “People are exposed to phthalates daily increasing their risk of several metabolic diseases. It’s important that we address EDCs now as they are harmful to human health.”