The potential hidden dangers in household products for infant’s immune system: Consequences for childcare - 06/11/25

Doi : 10.1016/j.arcped.2025.09.006

Christophe Dupont ^a,^⁎ , Sandra Brancato ^b, Rosan Meyer ^c, Martin Chalumeau ^d, Dominique Darmaun ^e, Marie Laure Frelut ^f, Dominique Guimbert ^g, Alexandre Lapillonne ^h, Arnaud de Luca ⁱ, Sophie Nicklaus ^j, Noel Peretti ^k, Jean-Pierre Chouraqui ^l

Comité de Nutrition de la Société Française de Pédiatrie (CN-SFP)

^a Pediatric Gastroenterology, Clinique Marcel Sembat, Ramsay Group, Boulogne-Billancourt, 92100 Boulogne, France

^b Private practice, 4 rue du Puits de Descarsses, AFPA (French Association of Ambulatory Paediatrics), 30190 Brignon, France

^c Department of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

^d Paris Descartes University, APHP Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France

^e Nantes Université and INRAE UMR 1280, 44300 Nantes, France

^f 16 rue de Septfons 81000 Albi, France and University Paris VII Denis Diderot, Paris, France

^g Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Lille University Jeanne de Flandre Children’s Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Lille, INSERM U995, 59037 Lille, France

^h Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Paris University Paris, France and CNRC Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

ⁱ Tours University and Inserm UMR1069, 37000 Tours, France

^j Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Europe, F-21000 Dijon, France

^k Pediatric Nutrition, University Pediatric Hospital of Lyon and INSERMU 1060, CarMeN laboratory and Claude Bernard Lyon-1 University, F-69008 Lyon, France

^l Paediatric Division of Nutrition and Gastro-enterology, Pediatric Department, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital (CHUGA), Chair, CN-SFP, Grenoble, France

^⁎ Corresponding author.

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Thursday 06 November 2025

Abstract

Background

The increase in allergic, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases observed in recent decades correlates with increased exposure to new chemicals that can damage the epithelial barrier, regardless of its location, the skin, respiratory, and digestive tract. Infants are often exposed to detergents and disinfectants from birth.

Objectives, methods, and setting

Published data indicate a potentially harmful impact of these chemicals on the epithelial barrier, which could promote allergies. The aim of this article is to review the available data on how these chemicals affect the epithelial barrier.

Results

We depict the likely harmful role of common household products in the development of allergies in children.

Conclusion

We suggest simple changes in everyday life aimed at reducing contact with these products in infants and young children.

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Graphical abstract

Image, graphical abstract Rinse aids: graphical abstract. Frequent bottle cleaning in washing machines increases the exposition of infants to rinse aid products remaining on the bottle wall. Rinse aids alter the Epithelial Barrier and favour the development of allergy.

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Keywords : Infant’s feeding bottles, Cookware and kitchenware dishwasher, Detergents, Rinse aids, Sanitizers allergy