Reducing Phthalate, Paraben, and Phenol Exposure from Personal Care Products in Adolescent Girls- Findings from the HERMOSA Intervention Study

Cosmetics, fragrances, and other personal care products are a possible source of human exposure to potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates, parabens, and phenols (Braun et al. 2014; Meeker et al. 2013). Because women are the primary consumers of many personal care products, they are disproportionately exposed to these chemicals (CDC 2012). Adolescent girls may be at particular risk of exposure through this route. For example, one small study found that the average adult woman uses approxi- mately 12 individual personal care products each day, whereas the average teenage girl uses 17 (Environmental Working Group 2008).

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