Sources of Exposure :
Description :
Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree. When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial.
Sources of Exposure: Personal care products and home cleaning products
Health Impacts: Tea tree oil is a possible hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that repeated topical exposure to lavender and tea tree oils probably caused early breast growth in the studied subjects. However, since the single study that exists was limited to three subjects and the condition is classified as idiopathic, Million Marker still lists products with tea tree oil on Approved Products lists. We do advise parents and guardians to take this into consideration if applying products with tea tree oil to prepubescent children.
Health Concerns
Contaminants:
Banned/restricted lists:
Henley, D.V. et al., 2007