What plasticizers are
Plasticizers are chemicals added to materials—most often plastics and rubber—to make them softer, more flexible and easier to process. They appear in many common items such as shower curtains, shrink-wrap, PVC raincoats, flexible tubing, electrical wire insulation and some cosmetics (for example, nail polish, lotions and shampoos) where they help stabilize formulas, resist water and extend shelf life.
Phthalates and regulation
Many widely used plasticizers belong to a family called phthalates. Because certain phthalates have been linked to health harms, several have been banned or tightly restricted in regions including the EU, the US, Canada and Japan. Restrictions are especially strict for products intended for children, though these chemicals remain in use in other product categories and in parts of the world with different rules.
Recent findings in Germany
German researchers reported unexpectedly high detection rates of a strictly regulated phthalate breakdown product in young people. In spring and summer 2025 a metabolite of mono-n‑hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) was found in 92% of urine samples from 259 children and adolescents tested across Germany. A 2024 study had detected the same metabolite in nearly two-thirds of urine samples from 250 children aged 2–6 in North Rhine‑Westphalia—a level reportedly about ten times higher than measurements three years earlier. A previous nationwide survey by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency (UBA) had found the chemical in roughly one-third of adults.
Officials and likely sources
Dirk Messner, head of the UBA, said the agency expected detections based on recent trends but was surprised by how common and how concentrated some samples were. In its 2024 work the UBA identified sunscreen as a likely source of exposure; the agency indicated sunscreen remained a probable source in the 2025 data, while noting that other sources have not been ruled out.
Health concerns
Some toxicologists caution that the levels of MnHexP measured in a subset of children were high enough that a health risk could not be excluded, even though most results fell below thresholds typically associated with clear harm. MnHexP in urine indicates exposure to di‑n‑hexyl phthalate (DnHexP), which can enter the body through the skin or airways. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has listed DnHexP as a “substance of very high concern” since 2013 and described it as toxic for reproduction.
Phthalates and related plasticizers are known to act as endocrine disruptors—substances that interfere with hormone systems governing growth, development and reproduction. Epidemiological studies have associated long-term exposure to certain plasticizers with higher risks of child obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, reduced fertility and problems affecting the nervous and respiratory systems. Animal studies show similar links to metabolic and cardiovascular effects.
Alternatives and limitations
Researchers and manufacturers have looked at bio-based plasticizers made from plant oils and other renewable feedstocks (for example from wheat, corn, rice or rapeseed). Some of these alternatives show promise but often do not yet match the performance or cost profile of established plasticizers. They may also bring their own concerns—reports have linked some alternatives to respiratory irritation or skin sensitivity—and their full environmental impacts require more study.
How to reduce exposure
– Prefer products labeled phthalate-free when available.
– Choose materials that do not require plasticizers for flexibility, such as wooden toys, glass food storage and metal camping dishes.
– Follow guidance for children’s products and buy from reputable brands with clear labeling; enforcement of bans for toys has tightened in many regions but consumer vigilance remains useful.
– Be cautious with personal-care products: when possible, check ingredient lists and opt for formulations that avoid phthalates.
Summary
Plasticizers are widespread and useful but some—including certain phthalates—pose documented health concerns, especially for children. Recent biomonitoring in Germany found surprisingly high detection rates of an MnHexP metabolite in young people, prompting renewed attention to potential sources such as sunscreen and to continued efforts to limit exposure.
Originally published September 13, 2024; updated March 9, 2026.