Phthalates – What Are They & Why Stay Away?
Phthalates, pronounced “Thal-ates,” (who comes up with these names?) are are oily, colorless chemical liquids that are used to convert hard plastic into soft for commonly used products including fragrances, certain wallpapers, vinyl flooring, seat coverings, raincoats, shower curtains, and even nail polish. Over the past few years, these chemicals have come under fire as being unsafe.
The United States recently announced a ban on several phthalates in children’s toys intended for children under the age of three because research has shown evidence that early exposure affects the normal development of boys by reducing testosterone levels. Some have even linked exposure to certain phthalates to obesity and related health problems.
One small German study, published in Pediatrics, linked DEHP to liver problems in premature babies, and blamed plastic intravenous feeding tubes as the likely culprit. A second study of lab rats published in Environmental Health Perspectives examined the effect of a mixture of chemicals, including DEHP, and found that a combination of chemicals magnified the overal negative effect rather than if the chemical was alone by itself.
While these two studies cast a poor light on pthalates, one study casts doubt on its toxitiy. In this day and age when some say everything is harmful and others contend that everything is safe, one can never to too sure of what is accurate and what is not. Although there is no clear answer on pthalates today, err on the side of caution. To avoid phthalates, avoid No. 3 plastics and look at the the ingredients that makeup different products in your daily life being sure to avoid the acronyms DBP, DEP, DMP, DEHP, BxBP or DMP — all of which signal the presence of phthalates.
What is your feeling on pthalates? Are they harmful or just over hyped?
[Image Via: ABC News]
