2 Definitions

Survey and Health Assement of the exposue of 2-year-olds to chemical substances in Consumer Product

2.1 2-year-olds

2 year-olds means children from the day they turn 2 until they reach the age of 3.

2.2 Toys for 2 year-olds

Toys for 2 year-olds are defined as toys which a 2 year-old may like to play with. In other words, toys intended both for very young children and toys for children over three years of age, as younger siblings often play with the toys of their older siblings. Furthermore, some parents - perhaps grandparents in particular - have a tendency to purchase toys for children that are intended for an age group higher than the actual age of the child. It is characteristic that children of about 2 years old, play with almost anything they can get their hands on.

2.3 Relevant substances

Throughout the project and report, the phrase "relevant substances" is used. This refers to chemical ingredients that are pertinent to the project’s focus area, i.e. that they are potential endocrine disruptors or allergen.

2.4 Relevant products

Throughout the project and report, the phrase "relevant products" is used. This refers to consumer products that are considered pertinent for a 2 year-old, i.e. products that a 2 year-old may come into contact with during one day.

The project is limited to focusing on consumer products that are subject to the Ministry of the Environment’s area of responsibility; in other words, food products or materials that come into contact with food products, such as tableware and baby bottles, are not analysed in this project. However, the project does include some of the already existing information on relevant chemical substances in food products. No distinction is made between substances in food products originating from environmental pollution and substances originating from packaging, processing equipment, etc. No new analyses have been performed on this area in the project.

2.5 Endocrine disrupters

Endocrine disrupters are, according to the EU’s definition from the Weybridge workshop in 1996, an "exogenous substance that causes harmful effects in an organism or its offspring as a result of changes in the function of the endocrine system."

Endocrine disrupters may affect hormone balance in many different ways. They can bind to one of the body’s many hormone receptors, where they can have either an agonistic or antagonistic effect. They can alter the number of hormone receptors and influence cofactors involved in the activation of various receptors. In addition, these substances can alter the synthesis of hormones, change the binding of hormones to proteins and alter the breakdown of hormones (Pharma, 2008).

2.5.1 Oestrogenic substances or oestrogen-like substances

Oestrogen-like substances are substances that can affect the organism in the same way as the female sex hormone oestrogen. In animal studies, effects of oestrogen-like substances may lead to early development of mammary tissue, early onset of puberty and reduced sperm quality. In humans, these substances are thought to play a role in the development of early onset of puberty and breast cancer.

2.5.2 Anti-androgenic substances

Anti-androgenic substances are substances that can counteract production from or effects of male sex hormones (androgens), including testosterone. In animal studies, the presence of anti-androgenic substances during the foetal stage may result in nipple retention, reduced anogenital distance, increased occurrence of deformed genitals, incomplete descent of testicles in male offspring, and reduced sperm quality in adult animals. In humans, these substances are thought to play a role in the incidence of reduced sperm quality, increased incidence of congenital deformities in the male sex organs, and increased incidence of incomplete descent of testicles in young boys.

2.6 Combination effects

Combination effects, also known as cocktail effects, can be defined as effects on a biological system or an organism after exposure to multiple substances at the same time. These substances may originate from the same source or from multiple sources.

2.7 Allergens

Allergens are substances classified as R42, may cause sensitisation by inhalation, and/or R43, may cause sensitisation by skin contact, on the List of hazardous substances or on the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s list of guidelines for self-classification. It is also well-known that preservatives, perfumes and colouring agents are used in cosmetic products and these can in certain cases provoke contact allergies. For perfume substances in cosmetic products, there is a requirement for 26 listed substances to be declared on the list of ingredients on the product. This is because their allergen properties have been documented, and this can be a tool for consumers who are aware that they are hypersensitive to one or more of these substances. There is a large difference in the allergen potential of these 26 substances, and other perfume agents.