We really do have to be aware of everything we put in, on and around our bodies these days, huh? I've posted about dangerous chemicals in skincare products and preached against bottled water, but have never touched upon the widely researched dangers of chemicals found in the plastics and the dangers association with their absorption. And since the most recent danger seems to be a connection between the phthalates used to make plastics more pliable (think rubber duck toys and water/baby bottles) and childhood obesity... well... we better take a look at this.Jennifer Lee, for the NY Times' City Room, offers a great overview of the latest research and talks to leading researchers involved with the Growing Up Healthy in East Harlem" study in her latest post:
...The chemicals in question are called phthalates, which are used to to make plastics pliable and in personal care products. Phthalates, which are absorbed into the body, are a type of endocrine disruptor — chemicals that affect glands and hormones that regulate many bodily functions. They have raised concerns as possible carcinogens for more than a decade, but attention over their role in obesity is relatively recent...
...The findings may presage a new approach to thinking about obesity — drawing environmental factors into a central part of the equation. “Most people think childhood obesity is an imbalance between how much they eat and how much they play,” Dr. Landrigan said. But he thinks the impact of endocrine disruptors on obesity could be more significant than many people believe. “Most people think it’s marginal,” he said, paling in comparison with diet and exercise...
These phthalates are EVERYWHERE, folks. From vinyl siding to perfume. Ugh.
1 comment:
Awesome post, Deb! Even though I feel like every time I open the paper there is a new article about how some common chemical is going to give me cancer or make me fat (or both), phthalates are particularly scary because of how ubiquitous they have become. I would say it's an even scarier endocrine disruptor than bisphenol A (BPA) because at least the consumer can avoid BPA by not buying products composed of polycarbonate (PC). While phthalates are found in almost all polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products they are (as you mentioned) also used as stabilizers for perfumes as well as personal care products, flame retardants, and medical equipment. Avoiding them is easier said than done since manufacturers aren't required to include phthalate esters in lists of product components. In fact, most research papers I've come across have estimated that between 80 and 90% of the population contain physiologically relevant levels of phthalates (i.e. concentrations of phthalates that are able to inappropriately activate or potentiate pathways involved in fat differentiation and storage). Finally, the American chemistry council which represents a consortium of the major chemical manufacturers (so they obviously have no vested interest) states on their website www.americanchemistry.com that phthalates are important for "performance, convenience, and fun," and that after years of careful [manipulation of] research there is no evidence suggesting adverse health risk. You really have to wonder if even THEY believe their own bs... (sorry for the tangent)
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