Can disposable baby diapers expose infants to phthalates through the skin?

What's actually in it

Disposable baby diapers are made from layers of plastic, adhesives, fragrances, and superabsorbent polymers. Several of these components contain phthalates, a family of chemicals used to make plastics soft and flexible. Babies wear diapers against bare skin for up to 24 hours a day during their first years of life.

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. They can mimic or block hormones in the body, and babies are especially vulnerable because their skin is thinner and more permeable than adult skin. Their bodies are also still developing, so small doses can have outsized effects.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Toxics measured phthalate levels in disposable diapers sold in China and then tested the urine of infants wearing them. The researchers found multiple phthalate metabolites in the babies' urine, confirming that these chemicals pass through the skin and enter the body.

The study also measured a marker of DNA oxidative damage called 8-OHdG in the infants' urine. Higher phthalate exposure from diapers was linked to higher levels of this damage marker. That's concerning because oxidative DNA damage in early life may raise long-term health risks.

The most common phthalates detected were DEHP, DBP, and DiBP. These are some of the same phthalates that have been restricted in children's toys in many countries, yet they still show up in diapers that sit directly on a baby's skin all day.

Cloth diapers or certified phthalate-free disposable brands may reduce this exposure. If you use disposable diapers, look for brands that test for and disclose their chemical content.