Phthalates

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Cheatsheet: Phthalates

 

Everything you need to know about 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:

 

1. 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.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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!

 

4. Paint: Paints and other hobby products may contain phthalates as

solvents, so be sure to use them in a well-ventilated space.

 

5. 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.

 

6. 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.

 

7. Air Fresheners: Just like fragrances in personal care products, most

air fresheners <http://www.simplesteps.org/content/view/147/37> contain

phthalates.

 

 

Where can I learn more?

 

 

1. Here's a link to Phthalates <http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/480>

in the Chemical Index.

 

2. Phthalates were just one of the hormone-disrupting chemicals we found

contaminating the San Francisco <http://www.ewg.org/node/20919> Bay.

 

3. NRDC has the low-down on phthalates in air

<http://www.simplesteps.org/content/view/147/37> fresheners.

 

4. EWG's Jane Houlihan discusses phthalates in children's personal care

<http://www.ewg.org/node/25974> products.

 

5. Olga explains a

<http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/04/phthalateinduced-asthma-gaspin-1.htm>

recent study linking phthalates to asthma and allergies.

 

Orginal photo by Felix63 <http://flickr.com/photos/flex/> .