Our mission for this new site is quite simple… “To educate people about the connections between the chemicals we come in contact with and our own personal health”

Do I need to be a chemist or what?

That’s the question that must run through the minds of many of our customers. The number of chemicals people need to know about in order to protect themselves and their family is growing rapidly…how is anyone supposed to keep up? That’s the reason we decided to create this website. We wanted to give you the latest information on how to protect yourself and the ones you love. 

In this edition we decided to focus on a group of chemicals called Phthalates.
These are some seriously nasty chemicals you need to know about.

They’re nasty because they’re widely used, and hardly known to the public to have severe side effects.
 
Phthalates are additives to plastic.  They’re added to make them softer in order to mould into specified shapes (bottles, screens, pens, plastic wrap) or to make plastics smooth and increase viscosity.
They’re widely used in containers, but not required to be listed on packaging because they are not a part of the product ingredients.  There are currently no government regulations surrounding ingredient listing for containers.  The scary thing is that Phthalates have been found to leach into the products contained in them. They are also widely used in personal care products, but not required to be listed as an ingredient.
The problem with Phthalates is that they are Endocrine Disruptors, meaning they mimic hormones our bodies naturally produce. They can disrupt the normal actions of our bodies.

Here are a few of their effects:

• they are proven animal carcinogens (they cause cancer)
• they have been linked with reproductive defects in a developing male fetus
• they have been linked to early puberty in females

You can find them in…

• Nail polish
• Hair Mousse
• Hair Gel
• Deodorants
• Fragrances
• Shower Curtains
• Water Bottles
• Plastic Baby Bottles and Water Bottles
• Plastic Food Containers
• Plastic Food Wrap

Visit http://www.safecosmetics.org/about/reports.cfm  or http://www.safecosmetics.org/docUploads/NotTooPretty_r51.pdf
for an independent report that analyzed large numbers of US beauty products. 70% were found to contain Phthalates, even though they weren’t listed as ingredients! Also try www.safecosmetics.org for a listing of products that don’t contain Phthalates.

Despite their prevalence in personal care products, one of the most likely ways of coming into contact with Phthalates is plastic food wrap!  The types of Phthalates used in certain plastic wraps made from PVC can cause liver and kidney damage.  Other types of Phthalates are listed in California’s Proposition 65 as a reproductive toxin. The good news is that not all plastic wrap is made from PVC. For example, we’re told that Glad Cling Wrap is not. If possible it’s best to avoid food wrap whenever possible, tough as that may be. One last helpful tip about food wrap…never use it in a microwave. This makes the Phthalates easier to leach out onto food.

Thanks for dropping by.



Bernie Ross
CEO

P.S. … if you know an expecting mom, send her our link, help empower her to make informed decisions!

Archived Ariticles:
VOL #1