What are Phthalates? And why are they bad for us?
What are Phthalates?
Phthalates are a class of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastics. They are often found in products such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, and even in some medical devices. In addition, phthalates are used in personal care products like lotions, perfumes, and nail polish to help them adhere to the skin.
How Do Phthalates Affect Health?
Research has shown that exposure to phthalates can have negative effects on human health. These chemicals are known to disrupt the endocrine system, which can lead to hormonal imbalances. Phthalates have been linked to a variety of health issues, including reproductive problems, asthma, obesity, and even certain types of cancer.
Why Are Phthalates Harmful?
One of the main concerns with phthalates is their ability to leach out of products and enter the environment. This can result in widespread exposure to these chemicals through air, water, and food sources. Additionally, phthalates can accumulate in the body over time, increasing the risk of adverse health effects.
How to Avoid Phthalates
While it may be difficult to completely avoid phthalates in today's world, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure. Opt for phthalate-free products whenever possible, such as cosmetics labelled as "phthalate-free" or choosing glass containers over plastic, especially for reheating food. Phthalates can be hiding in places you might not think of, such as tea bags!.. I moved to loose leaf tea a few years ago, I use a tea pot with a metal strainer in it, brew the tea an pour out, no plastic, especially as evidence is now leaning towards reheating foods in plastic containers can increase the levels of leaching. Additionally, avoiding heavily scented products can help reduce your exposure to these harmful chemicals, such as air fresheners and plug in air fresheners, they're literally dispersing these chemicals into the air for us to breath in. Consider an oil burner, add water and a few drops of essential oils, this I find can create a lovely fragrance without the chemicals floating about in the air for my children breathing in harmful chemicals that can have long lasting effects on their body's.
Products are now being labelled as BPA free, great or so I though until I listened to Dr Ronda Patrick who is an advocate for getting the Phthalate message out there, she explained that now scientists have made an alteration to BPA which is now called BPS, slightly different but, but now those products can advertise as BPA free. So people will be making a careful purchase thinking something must be safer as it's marketed as BPA free... however it's not much different, the market hasn't caught up with the new loophole as yet!
By being mindful of the products you use and making informed choices, you can help minimise your exposure to phthalates and protect your health in the long run.