January 17: Harmful levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals have been found in the personal care products being imported, distributed and used in Nepal, especially among the products used by children.

A study conducted by the Center for Public Health and Environment Promotion (CPHEP) made this startling revelation. According to the organization, 43.85 micrograms of butyl paraben and 1039.3 micrograms of methyl paraben were found respectively in Kodomo kids mouthwash and Kodomo toothpaste imported, distributed and used in Nepal. According to Ram Charitra Sah, an environment scientist and executive director of the center, this is a high level and is harmful for health.

Similarly, Sah informed that 660.1 micrograms per gram of triclosan was found in handwash and 1.11 milligrams per gram of triclosan in deodorants used in Nepal.

"Our study found 0.03 micrograms per gram in feminine wash and 0.04 micrograms per gram of triclocarbon in handwash, which can cause disturbances in hormone production," he said.

Sah says the revelation that children’s products contain paraben, a chemical that can disrupt hormone production, has put children at double risk of harmful chemicals.

Earlier studies have already established that children's toys contain harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. In addition to this, Sah said that paints used in homes and schools contain high levels of lead.

The center said that it joined hands with other 11 non-governmental organizations from eight countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia under the 'EDC Free Asia II' regional initiative with the support of South Korea's Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Korea Financial Industry Foundation, South Korea to conduct the study.

Twelve non-governmental organizations from eight countries participated in this campaign. The Center for Public Health and Environment Promotion from Nepal, CAP from Malaysia, CGFED from Vietnam, IDIS from the Philippines, Ban Toxics and Eco Waste Coalition-EWC, Toxic Links and Prithvi Innovation from India, CEJ from Sri Lanka, Ecotone from Indonesia, Gita Pertivi and ESDO from Bangladesh contributed to the study.

The study included 362 samples of personal care products collected from eight countries. Among them, 116 were child products. According to the organization, they analyzed mainly eight types of these samples. They included protective materials like anti-virus wipes, baby wipes, deodorant, toothpaste, body wash, feminine wash, hand wash and mouth wash. The sample included 30 personal care products purchased from supermarkets, departmental stores and drug stores in Nepal.

Out of the total 116 samples of child products analyzed, 7.76 percent were from Nepal. According to Sah, a total of 11 chemicals including nine types of paraben, triclosan and triclocarbon, which are commonly-used chemicals in personal care products, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in these samples.

The high level of paraben, triclosan and triclocarbon found on products used in the countries that took part in the study have led to concerns that these chemicals can have serious implications in human health by causing disturbances in hormone production.

The study report also mentions that unlabeled materials were found in eight countries including Nepal. Country-wise, non-compliance with labeling was 3.3 percent in Nepal, 9.4 percent in Malaysia, 13.3 percent in Vietnam, 7.7 percent in the Philippines, 8.8 percent in India, 10 percent in Sri Lanka, 6 percent in Indonesia and 13.3 percent in Bangladesh.

During the study, erroneous labeling was identified in all the participating countries including Nepal. There were 269 samples that did not have a separate label about the harmful chemicals such as paraben, triclosan, triclocarbon in the product. Among the samples analysed, harmful chemicals such as paraben, triclosan, triclocarbon were found in 22.3 percent of the samples. This means that they are incorrectly labeled.

Among the 30 personal protective material samples included in the study from Nepal, methyl paraben was found in 40 percent of the samples, propyl paraben in 10 percent, butyl paraben in 3.3 percent, triclosan in 6.7 percent, and triclocarbon in 6.7 percent. The organization has emphasized on the effective implementation of laws, regulations and other mandatory standards to protect the general public and especially children from these harmful chemicals.