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Cheatsheet: Phthalates
What is it?
Phthalates are a common industrial chemical used in PVC plastics, solvents, and synthetic fragrances. They've been around since the 1930's, and now they're pretty ubiquitous; when they tested 289 people in 2000, the CDC found phthalates in all of the subjects' blood at surprisingly high levels. They're often referred to as a plasticizer, which we think sounds rather like a kind of exercise to be done on the living-room floor in front of videos hosted by Jane Fonda. But we digress.
What are the possible health effects?
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors linked to problems of the reproductive system, including decreased sperm motility and concentration in men and genital abnormalities in baby boys. (Oh, and did you know that average sperm counts have decreased significantly since the 1940's?) More recently they've also been linked to asthma and allergies.How can I minimize my exposure?
Avoid these, and you'll also be avoiding phthalates:- Nail polish: Dibutyl phthalate is often used to make nail polish chip-resistant. Look for it on the ingredients list, where it may be shortened to DBP.
- Plastics in the kitchen: Take a critical eye to your cupboards. Phthalates may be more likely to leach out of plastic when it's heated, so avoid cooking or microwaving in plastic.
- Vinyl toys: Phthalates are what make vinyl (PVC) toys soft, so don't give them to children. Opt instead for wooden and other phthalate-free toys, especially during that age when they put everything in their mouths!
- Paint: Paints and other hobby products may contain phthalates as solvents, so be sure to use them in a well-ventilated space.
- Fragrance: Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is often used as part of the "fragrance" in some products. Since DEP won't be listed separately, you're better off choosing personal care products, detergents, and cleansers that don't have the word "fragrance" on the ingredients list.
- Vinyl: Vinyl shows up in a lot of different products; lawn furniture, garden hoses, building materials, and items of clothing (like some raincoats) are often sources. Aside from carefully choosing materials when you're making purchases, there is one easy change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtain. That "new shower curtain" smell (you know the one) is a result of chemical off-gassing, and it means your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.
- Air Fresheners: Just like fragrances in personal care products, most air fresheners contain phthalates.
Where can I learn more?
- Here's a link to Phthalates in the Chemical Index.
- Phthalates were just one of the hormone-disrupting chemicals we found contaminating the San Francisco Bay.
- NRDC has the low-down on phthalates in air fresheners.
- EWG's Jane Houlihan discusses phthalates in children's personal care products.
- Olga explains a recent study linking phthalates to asthma and allergies.
Orginal photo by Felix63.
You know how much I love Cheat Sheets! Thanks for posting this... great info.
I just got back from a great meditation retreat and had to write a letter to the retreat center about this very topic. Too bad I didn't see your article before I wrote it, but I think I covered the main points. Plus, I'm sending them a copy of EWG's "Down The Drain" report.
I posted the letter on my blog tonight.
I've read that there are a lot of phthalates in dryer sheets. Is this a big source of phthalate exposure? Whats a good alternative to dryer sheets to reduce static cling?
Jessica, that is a great question, which I don't know the answer to off the top of my head -- let me do a little research and I'll give it it's own post. Thanks!
My gut says everything in your article is good advice, but do you have some specific studies you could cite or know of a resource where these types of scares could be verified?
I've been reading "Eat, Drink & Be Healthy" and the author describes the problem with people over-reacting to one time or small-sample group studies instead of focusing on good, general eating habits. It's really made me think about how I react to "new research" warnings.
Try dryer balls: they are great at fluffing things, facilitate lint release and leave no residue. Of course, check the material they are made of, before purchasing. They are basically bumpy tennis-ball type things that tumble around with your clothes.
So I have been trying to find alternatives to "vinyl" shower curtains (I live in Vancouver, BC). You can buy some hemp or bamboo stuff online - but expensive, and issues with water-resistance and mold.
The only other curtains I have found locally so far are made of "polyester", which I assume is PET, which I believe is just another form of phthalate.
Can anybody provide more insight? Thanx!
Does anyone know if there are phthalates in Tupperware products, especially the microwavable containers? Thanks.
So, are ALL plastic toys bad? Are all vinyls bad? Are ALL shower curtains bad? If I were to throw away all plastic, vinyl and things with fragrance in them, I would throw away everything including my vehicle.
I don't know the validity of this site, but it gives an alternative to dryer sheets. I've never noticed a problem with static. I hang my laundry on a drying rack in the house year round.
http://shop.sixwise.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=92
By the way, great work, EWG! You rock, as always. Practically every environmental personal care article or book I glance at (and a lot of those have come out recently) mention the Skin Deep Database.
Thank you soo much! I have been preaching to my family about this very thing, and now I have an article that I can send them. Thanks!
Do majority of childrens toys have this or is it just the super soft ones, like teethers
?
For PVC free shower curtains you can check out simplememoryart.com. The curtains are about $32 each.
I bought a Green Star juicer with the slow roll compression type of action of 2 stainless steel rollers at low temperatures. But I don't know if the plastic is pthalate in composition nor if it is would this be an still unhealthy?
I noticed that Hypromellose Phthalate is an ingredient in the enteric coating on a supplement I take. I couldn't really find any info on this particular phthalate. Is it dangerous (or not advisable) to ingest?
Thanks!
Great info! As a skincare formulator with a focus on green and all natural, I use only essential oils or natural organic flavorings to scent my skincare products.
It's fantastic to see consumers paying attention to ingredients on products we use on our skin every day.
Robin Feltner
Supernatural Botanicals
Hotels use nylon or polyester shower curtains. I don't know where they buy them, but you can do an internet search or make them.
I have been using Dove products thinking that they don't have anything harmul to my health and found out their deodorants contain aluminum and other products contain parabens or phthalates I feel very angry about it. Unilever the manufacturer should take a better look into this. Certainly I will not purchase any of their products anymore and I will spread my word as much as I can.