Phthalates are Toxic – And They’re Absolutely Everywhere! Here’s What You need to Know
You probably have toxic phthalates in your body right now – and that’s really not good.
They’re called the ‘everywhere chemical’ because –
- they’re literally everywhere – especially in consumer products that you use every day.
- they don’t chemically ‘bind’ to whatever material they’re used in, so they can easily leach into food, escape into the atmosphere, or you can absorb them via your mouth or skin contact.
In this post, we’ll look at where they’re found, how to find them on ingredient lists, and the problems they cause.
Where Toxic Phthalates Are Found
Well, everywhere. Here are the most common places.
Fragrances – They don’t have any scent, but phthalates are used in fragrance products to help the scent last longer. So, they’re in anything that contains fragrance: perfume, cologne, candles, air fresheners, dryer sheets, scented skincare— the list goes on and on. Manufacturers don’t have to list the ingredients in ‘fragrance’ so if you see it or ‘parfum’ in the ingredients list, you’re likely getting phthalates.
Personal Care Products such as lotions, creams, shampoos, deodorants and soaps often contain phthalates, and so does a lot of make-up (especially nail polish, which has many nasty ingredients).
Packaging – of consumer goods including children’s toys, but also food products and bottled water. They are known to leach into all types of food, cooking oils, and drinks (it’s thought that what you eat and drink is the main route for your exposure to these chemicals).
Medicines and Supplements – phthalates are used in enteric-coated pills (tablets that don’t dissolve until they reach your gut). They’re also used in gel capsules and in slow-release medicines. (It’s ironic isn’t it, that pills that are supposed to cure ailments, contribute to harm).
PVC / Vinyl products such as shower curtains, vinyl floors and windows, hoses and pipes, plastic tablecloths and plastic food storage containers. And the interior fittings of many cars.
Dining Out – if you eat out more often than you cook from scratch at home, you’re more likely to have a high phthalate load. Burgers and sandwiches are big culprits, but any type of dining out means food will be in closer contact with gloves, commercial packaging and take-home boxes.
How To Find Phthalates in Ingredient Lists
It’s really difficult to avoid phthalates because they are everywhere, but you can try to avoid them by reading ingredients labels. There are also lots of different types of phthalates, but here are the most common (their full names and their common abbreviations) –
- Anything that lists ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’
- Anything with ‘phthalate’
- Some ingredients with abbreviations that end in P
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
- Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
- Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)
- Diisononyl phthalate (DiNP)
- Diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP)
- Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP)
- Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)
What do Phthalates Do to You?
Lots of different things, for example –
- Change your hormones – phthalates are known endocrine disruptors
- Reduction in fertility levels
- Possibly an increased risk of cancer, early death and heart disease
Best Ways to Avoid Them
With that list of nasties, it’s obvious you’ll want to avoid phthalates as much as possible….
- Avoid anything with fragrance
- Try to find skincare, personal care and cosmetics that are marked ‘phthalate free’ or check ingredients lists
- Avoid vinyl at home wherever possible
- Don’t buy food and drinks in plastic
- Cook at home more often
These ‘everywhere chemicals’ are toxic, and I hope this post helps you to reduce your exposure.
Please share this important post with friends, family and on social media. Sharing buttons below and right – thank you!
Warm regards,
[…] Source link […]