A plasticizer is a term for a range of chemicals added to materials—most commonly plastics and rubber—to make them softer and more flexible. They appear in many everyday items such as shower curtains, shrink-wrap, PVC raincoats, flexible tubing, and electrical wire insulation. Some plasticizers are also used in cosmetics (nail polish, lotions, shampoos) to stabilize formulas, help products resist water, or extend shelf life.
Many plasticizers belong to a group called phthalates. Because some phthalates have been linked to harmful effects, several have been banned or tightly restricted in places including the EU, the US, Canada and Japan. Restrictions are particularly strict for products for children, though these chemicals are still widely used in other parts of the world.
German researchers have recently reported unexpectedly high levels of a strictly regulated plasticizer breakdown product in young people. In spring and summer 2025, a metabolite of mono-n‑hexyl phthalate (MnHexP) was detected in 92% of urine samples from 259 children and adolescents across Germany. An earlier 2024 investigation had found the same metabolite in nearly two-thirds of urine samples from 250 children aged 2–6 in North Rhine‑Westphalia, a tenfold increase compared with three years earlier. A nationwide study by Germany’s federal environment agency (UBA) had previously detected the chemical in about a third of adults.
Dirk Messner, head of the UBA, said the agency was not surprised to find MnHexP in young people’s urine based on recent trends, but was surprised by how many samples were contaminated and how high some concentrations were. In its 2024 work the UBA identified sunscreen as a likely source of the plasticizer, and the agency said sunscreen was again a probable source in the 2025 data, though other sources haven’t been ruled out.
How are plasticizers harmful?
Toxicologist Marike Kolossa‑Gehring (formerly of the UBA) said that concentrations of MnHexP found in some children were high enough that a health risk could not be ruled out, even though most measurements were below levels thought likely to cause harm. MnHexP can appear in the body after exposure to di‑n‑hexyl phthalate (DnHexP) via the skin or airways, though other sources are possible. DnHexP has been listed by the European Chemicals Agency as a “substance of very high concern” since 2013.
Phthalates and some other plasticizers can act as endocrine disruptors—chemicals that interfere with hormone-producing glands and the hormones that regulate growth, development and reproduction. In its 2013 assessment, ECHA found DnHexP to be “toxic for reproduction,” warning it could affect fertility or harm an unborn child. That concern also applies to the phthalate metabolite detected in urine tests.
Epidemiological studies have linked prolonged exposure to certain plasticizers with a range of health issues in children, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, reduced fertility and problems with the nervous and respiratory systems. Animal studies likewise suggest plasticizers may influence the risk of obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
Alternatives and avoidance
Researchers have explored bio‑based plasticizers derived from plant sources such as wheat, corn, rice and rapeseed oil as potentially safer alternatives. Some of these alternatives show promise but often do not yet match the performance of long‑established plasticizers or are more expensive to produce. They may also carry their own risks—reports link some alternatives to respiratory problems or skin irritation—and more research is needed on their environmental impacts.
To reduce exposure, experts recommend choosing products explicitly labeled phthalate‑free where possible, and opting for materials that do not require plasticizers, such as wooden toys, glass storage containers or metal camping dishes. In regulated products such as toys, enforcement of bans has tightened, but consumer vigilance and clear labeling remain important.
This article was originally published on September 13, 2024, and updated on March 9, 2026.
Edited by: Jennifer Collins