Tests conducted in Germany have revealed that children and adolescents are contaminated with banned and potentially toxic plasticizers. These chemicals are ubiquitous in items such as clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging, posing risks to human health.
Plasticizers, sometimes referred to as phthalates, are a broad category of chemicals added to materials, typically plastics and rubber, to enhance softness and flexibility. They are found in countless everyday products, including plastic shower curtains, shrink-wrap, PVC raincoats, and flexible tubing or wire insulation for residential use. In regions like the European Union, the United States, Canada, and Japan, the use of certain plasticizers has been banned or severely restricted due to their potentially harmful effects on human health or the environment, yet they remain widely utilized elsewhere.
Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) detected a breakdown product of plasticizer, mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHexP), in 92% of urine samples from 259 children and adolescents collected across Germany in spring and summer 2025. An initial investigation in 2024 found the same substance in nearly two-thirds of urine samples from 250 kindergarten-age children in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia—a tenfold increase compared to three years prior. UBA head Dirk Messner stated in mid-February: "Based on the results of recent years, we were not surprised to find MnHexP in the urine samples of children and adolescents. However, what did surprise us was the large proportion of contaminated samples, as well as the sometimes very high concentrations."
In its 2024 investigation, the UBA identified sunscreen as a potential source of the plasticizer. The agency noted that this source was likely again present in the most recent data collected in 2025, but other sources have not been ruled out. Marike Kolossa-Gehring, a toxicologist with the UBA until December 2025, told DW after the first study that the concentration of the breakdown product MnHexP found in the tested children was in some cases high enough "that a health risk couldn't be ruled out." Nevertheless, most measurements remained below levels considered likely to cause harm.
MnHexP is a potential byproduct that remains in the body after it ingests or absorbs di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHexP) through the skin or airways, though it could also originate from other sources. DnHexP has been classified by the European Chemicals Agency as a "substance of very high concern" since 2013, and its use is strictly regulated. In its 2013 analysis, the agency found that DnHexP is "toxic for reproduction" in humans and could have detrimental effects on fertility or "cause harm to the unborn child." This also applies to the phthalate byproduct detected in the urine samples.
Phthalates are part of a group of plasticizers that have been used for years in the production of numerous products or packaging. However, when they leach from products or evaporate from surfaces and enter the human body, some are considered endocrine disruptors—meaning they may interfere with the glands that produce hormones regulating growth, development, and reproduction. Some studies link prolonged exposure to a range of health issues in children, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, fertility problems, and issues with the nervous and respiratory systems. Animal testing also suggests that plasticizers may influence the risk of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
In response to these concerns, researchers have explored the potential of bio-based plasticizers. These include alternatives made from plants such as wheat, corn, rice, and rapeseed oil, which could mitigate the adverse effects of traditional plasticizers. However, some of these alternatives do not yet perform as effectively as plasticizers used for decades or are too costly to manufacture. While their health impacts are less severe, they could still be associated with respiratory illnesses and skin irritation. Further research is needed to determine whether these alternatives might have unintended environmental consequences.
Experts suggest that one way to avoid plasticizers and their numerous drawbacks is to use products guaranteed by manufacturers to be phthalate-free. Certain plastic items are clearly labeled as such, and substitutes made from other materials—such as wooden toys, glass containers, or metal camping dishes—do not contain them in the first place.
Source: www.dw.com