Hidden in Plain Sight: Why Phthalates and Endocrine Disruptors Deserve Our Attention

My soapmaking journey started from a simple curiosity and the desire to create things myself. What began as a calming hobby soon turned into something more meaningful, a quiet form of resistance.

Thanks to my background in science and my professional experience in fashion compliance, I have become increasingly aware of a group of chemicals that often go unnoticed in everyday life: phthalates. These substances are silently present all around us and can have a significant impact on our health.

Why phthalates concern me (and why they should concern you)

Phthalates are synthetic chemicals widely used to soften plastics and stabilize fragrances in everyday products, from shampoos and soaps to food packaging and toys. But their convenience hides a troubling truth: these substances belong to a class known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which significantly interfere with our body's hormonal systems. The scientific evidence on their harmful impacts is both compelling and growing.

Research shows that exposure to even small amounts of endocrine disruptors during critical life stages, such as fetal development and puberty, can result in lifelong consequences. Since the 1970's, global sperm concentrations have dicreased nearly by 65% in less than 50 years.

It is fairly estimated that at the current rate of decline, most couples will face infertility within the next few decades. But this crisis extends beyond just fertility. Phthalates are also strongly associated with higher rates of miscarriages, premature puberty, and reproductive complications in both men and women.

A wider problem: fertility and beyond

This isn’t just about making babies. The same chemical exposure is suspected to play a role in rising rates of autism, obesity, breast and testicular cancer, and even cardiovascular diseases. Micro- and nanoplastics have now been found in human arteries and brain tissue, raising serious questions about our long-term cognitive and heart health.

Tiny chemicals, silent consequences

The amount of plastic the world produces has surged beyond belief—nearly 500 million tons in 2017, compared to almost nothing in 1950. It’s no coincidence that our health metrics are tanking while our chemical use are rising.

Why soap-making became my way of saying “enough”

My response to this crisis wasn’t to shout from rooftops (though I’m doing a bit of that here) but to start small, by rethinking something as basic as soap. Most supermarket soaps are loaded with synthetic foaming agents, artificial fragrances, and preservatives. Many of these are either direct sources of endocrines disruptors or rely on processes that leave trace chemical residues. These ingredients, though seemingly harmless individually, collectively contribute to the toxic burden to our bodies.

At babassu soaps, I keep my soap recipes simple and clean, using ingredients that are gentle on the skin and as natural as possible. Babassu oil has been a great discovery in that regard: it creates a rich, foamy lather without needing synthetic surfactants. It is also much better in terms of sustainability than coconut oil. The same mindset is also applied through the selection of my other ingredients.

One bar of soap won’t save the world, but it’s a start

Let's be real, switching to natural soap alone won't eliminate decades of chemical exposure overnight. But making a conscious choice, even something as simple as opting for natural skincare, sends an important signal. Each product swapped out for a healthier alternative reduces your personal chemical load and signals industries to pursue safer, more transparent manufacturing practices.

I believe it’s this kind of deep awareness, combined with scientific research and stronger regulation, that will create change.

Artistic view of microplastic in human blood

Final thoughts

As both a simple soap-maker and someone who enjoy following and understanding the sciences, I’m convinced we are facing a quiet health crisis. Our health and fertility are being affected by a toxic cocktail of chemicals we have barely begun to regulate. And it’s all happening silently.

If there’s one message I would love you to take from this : you can start small, but you need to start somewhere. For me, that was a bar of soap. For you, it might be a food container, or a deeper look into the products you use every day.

Beyond the short-term effects, could these chemicals become a long-term threat? In a few decades, might they disrupt population balance and the economy in ways we are not prepared for?

Thanks for reading and caring.

Sources

1. World Health Organization & United Nations Environment Programme (2012) – “State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals” https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241505031

   
   

2. Gore et al., 2015 – “EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals”

   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4569572/

   
   

3. Hauser & Calafat, 2005 – “Phthalates and Human Health”

   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281293/

   
   

4. Leslie et al., 2022 – “Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood”

   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022001258