Protecting Your Houston Home and Family From Phthalates
Hello and welcome! We are always happy to have you visit us. Today we are touching on the extremely toxic chemicals phthalates. Known as the “everywhere chemical” Phthalates are a group of chemicals, used as binding agent, solvent, and to add flexibility to plastics and a large variety of materials. As you go about your daily life, here are a few things to keep in mind if you use any of the products below. We understand, that while you may not be able to eliminate all, we still want you to be aware so you can keep you, your pet, and your family safe.
Phthalates are found in a huge range of items including cosmetics, paints, and food packaging. phthalates have been found to have serious impacts on our environment
They have been linked to a wide range of health problems.
They do not break down or degrade.
The most common phthalate found in food is DEHP, with one study finding this in 74% of the samples tested. Food tested included infant food, milk, fruits, vegetables, meats, condiments, and more.
They are odorless and colorless
Because they are not chemically bonded to the material they are added to, they easily leach into the environment.
Phthalates are used in perfume, nail polish, shampoo, soap, body lotion, and deodorant.
They are found in the water, air, and soil, by way of pollution.
They are toxic to many aquatic organisms including certain algae, crustaceans, insects, and fish.
California and Washington, have approved more restrictive regulations around the use of phthalates.
The European Union has banned the use of six phthalates in children’s products and restricts the use of others.
Because FDA regulations do not require the specific fragrance ingredients to be listed, phthalates may simply be listed as fragrance, making it very difficult to catch.
Family of Phthalate and Their Primary Uses
BBP - Butyl Benzyl Phthalate.- Adhesives and sealants, floor coverings, paints and coatings, and use in plastic and rubber products.
DBP - Dibutyl Phthalate - Adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, floor coverings, furniture, chemiluminescent light sticks, lubricants, fabric, textiles and leather.
DCHP - Dicyclohexyl Phthalate- Adhesive, paint and coatings, plastic products, rubber products, and plastic resin manufacturing.
DEHP - Diethylhexyl Phthalate- Paints and coatings, plastic materials and resins, industrial polishes, aerospace products and adhesives; consumer products including textiles, leather goods, and lawn care products.
DIBP - Diisobutyl Phthalate- Adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, plastic and rubber manufacturing, fabric dyes, textile and leather treatments, printing inks, toners, and colorants.
Five (5) Ways to Avoid Phthalates Includes:
Use metal and glass containers to store food.
If you use plastic containers, avoid exposing them to any kind of heat, including the dishwasher and microwave.
Avoid PVC products such as shower curtains, vinyl floors, synthetic carpet and certain types of hoses.
You may just want to avoid using any products that list fragrance as one of their ingredients.
Because Phthalates are easily picked up in our everyday life since they are in so many products, washing your hands regularly may help to reduce your exposure. 80% of Phthalates can be removed by washing your hands with soap and water. For more information about the use, dangers and how to avoid Phthalates, please visit the EPA and or EWG.
As always, we thank you for visiting us today and hope you visit often. If you are looking for a cleaning service, we hope you will give us a try. We are always 100% toxic free, 100% fragrance free, 100% chemical free. Safe for you home, family, friends, pets, and the environment. Until next time…
