The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology issued a warning about products that contain lavender oil, which can act as an estrogen. Researchers report the premature development of breasts in girls – and boys – exposed to products containing lavender oil.
Important points of the article include: – Lavender oil itself, is often a mixture of several components. It’s often a component in many fragrances and personal hygiene products that have been found to have estrogen and antiandrogenic properties. – 3 prepubertal girls and one boy with a history of continuous exposure to products containing lavender showed breast development that dissipated with product discontinuation.
It’s always best to use fragrance free and unscented versions of cleaning and personal products to reduce the exposure of endocrine disrupting ingredients.