Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) held a press briefing on February 15, 2024, at ESDO head office to unveil a new report titled “Detection of Endocrine Disruption: EDC in Personal Care Products in Bangladesh.”. The findings of this study are alarming, indicating high levels of parabens in toothpaste and handwash products sold in Bangladesh. This research, conducted in collaboration with the Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH) in South Korea, aimed to investigate the use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and parabens in local personal care products due to health concerns.
ESDO collected 30 samples from various shops in Dhaka, which were then analyzed by WIOEH. The results were concerning, revealing that all tested toothpaste and handwash products contained chemicals exceeding permissible limits. Notably, fluoride (found only in toothpaste) and sodium dichloride showed the highest concentrations. Additionally, 5 out of 22 adult products analyzed contained significantly high levels of parabens. Comparative analysis with samples from seven other countries indicated that Bangladeshi products had the highest concentrations of parabens.
This study underscores the potential health risks associated with these chemicals, including disruptions in hormone regulation, reproductive issues, and potential carcinogenic effects from parabens.
