A topic that has been concerning families for several years
Endocrine disruptors in products for infants and young children are subject to increasing scientific and regulatory attention in France and Europe. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has published several expert reports on this subject, which now provide a better understanding of the real issues — without giving in to excessive anxiety or minimization.
This article presents factual elements derived from these works, distinguishing what is established, what is still debated, and what parents can reasonably do at their level.
What is an endocrine disruptor?
An endocrine disruptor is a chemical substance that interferes with the hormonal system of a living organism. According to the definition adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and used by European authorities, this interference can occur in three ways: by mimicking the action of a natural hormone, by blocking its receptors, or by disrupting its synthesis or elimination.
Infants and young children are a particularly sensitive population to these substances. Their endocrine system is still developing, their hepatic detoxification mechanisms are immature, and their body surface/weight ratio is higher than in adults, which amplifies relative exposure via skin and respiratory routes. These elements are documented in the scientific literature and recognized by ANSES.
What ANSES reports have highlighted
Substances monitored as a priority
In its various expert works, ANSES has identified several families of concerning substances in childcare products and toys: phthalates (used as plasticizers), bisphenol A and its substitutes (BPS, BPF), certain brominated flame retardants, and certain parabens in baby cosmetics.
Bisphenol A has been banned in France in food containers since 2015, and its use in toys is regulated by European regulations. However, ANSES has warned that some substitutes developed to replace it (notably BPS and BPF) show similar concerning toxicological profiles, without yet having been subject to such strict regulations. This point illustrates a recurring challenge in chemical risk management: the replacement of one substance by another for which there is insufficient data.
Routes of exposure in infants
ANSES distinguishes several routes of exposure for young children: ingestion (via hand-to-mouth contact with toys or surfaces), dermal route (cosmetics, treated textiles), and respiratory route (emissions of volatile organic compounds from certain materials). In infants who spend most of their time on the floor, exposure to emissions from floor coverings and carpets constitutes a significant vector, which reinforces the interest in choosing certified materials for play areas.
What European regulations provide for
The European regulatory framework applicable to baby products is mainly based on several texts: the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC revised), and the Cosmetics Regulation. These texts set limit values for a number of substances and impose traceability obligations on manufacturers.
The European Commission has also adopted a specific strategy for chemicals (the 'Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability') which provides for a progressive strengthening of restrictions on endocrine disruptors in everyday consumer products, including those intended for children. This strengthening is currently being implemented and will be subject to new measures in the coming years.
To learn more about the regulatory framework in force, the official ANSES website regularly publishes updates of its expert opinions, available at: anses.fr/fr/thematique/perturbateurs-endocriniens.
What parents can do concretely
Rely on recognized certifications
Given the complexity of the subject, certifications provide a concrete and reliable benchmark. For textiles and products in contact with the skin, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification guarantees the absence of the most common harmful substances at the tested concentrations. For toys and wooden products, FSC certification attests to the responsible management of materials, but does not directly concern chemical substances — it is therefore also necessary to check compliance with the REACH regulation.
For playmats and play surfaces, where infants spend a considerable amount of time lying down or on all fours, the composition of the materials deserves particular attention. A playmat whose materials are certified and traceable mechanically reduces exposure to concerning substances via skin and respiratory routes.
Regularly ventilate living spaces
ANSES recommends ventilating rooms where young children live for at least ten minutes a day, even in winter, to renew indoor air and reduce the concentration of volatile compounds. This simple measure is documented as effective in reducing overall exposure to indoor pollutants. Our article on indoor pollution and baby health details the available data on this related topic.
Avoid heating plastic containers
Heating plastics accelerates the migration of chemical substances into food or liquids. This precaution, emphasized by several health authorities, particularly concerns reheating bottles or meals in unsuitable plastic containers. It does not require banning all plastics from everyday life, but rather using each material under the conditions for which it was designed and tested.
The distinction between proven risk and the precautionary principle
It is important to distinguish between two levels of interpretation in this debate. On the one hand, some health effects of endocrine disruptors on human health are documented in the scientific literature with a sufficient level of evidence to justify regulatory restrictions — this is the case for bisphenol A. On the other hand, a large number of substances are still undergoing evaluation, for which the available data are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions.
The precautionary principle, as applied by ANSES and European authorities, consists of reducing exposure to concerning substances when existing scientific data suggest a plausible risk, without waiting for formal proof of harm. This principle does not mean that every suspected substance is necessarily dangerous at actual exposure levels — but that in the absence of certainty, caution is preferable, particularly for vulnerable populations.
This approach is consistent with the philosophy guiding the choices of many families today: choosing fewer products, but products whose composition is known, certified, and whose durability mechanically reduces the frequency of replacement and thus cumulative exposure to new materials. This is also what the slow parenting approach advocates in its material dimensions, as we detailed in our article on what researchers say about slow parenting.
Perspective: a regulatory work still in progress
Endocrine disruptors in baby products are not a fully controlled risk to date. The work of ANSES and European regulatory developments are progressing, but the work remains open. New substances regularly enter the lists of concern, and evaluation methods are refined.
For parents, the challenge is not to develop anxious vigilance towards every everyday product, but to build a few solid benchmarks: prioritize certified products, limit the number of soft plastic items in direct contact with the infant, ventilate regularly, and seek information from reliable institutional sources rather than solely from commercial discourse. These simple habits, applied consistently, constitute the most reasonable response to a real risk whose exact extent is still being evaluated.
