DO NOT BE DECEIVED about Phthalates as the information depending on where you get it is quite conflicted. I personally cannot formulate an opinion with all this conflicting information, however, I think it is wise to ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.
- If you get the information from the AMC (American Chemistry Council) aka manufacturers it is safe.
- The EWG (Environmental Working Group) says not.
- The FDA - well, they just don't quite know.
So, here is the breakdown:
AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL:
Straight from the American Chemistry Council, bringing you the news about Phthalates. I encourage you to get down a ways after this brief interpretation of this chemical. For instance, who makes up this American Chemistry Council!!!!!!!!!
Q. What are phthalates?
A. Phthalates are a family of compounds whose primary use is as a vinyl
softener. They are colorless, oily liquids with little or no odor and
low volatility. Phthalates provide many product and consumer
benefits—public health, performance, durability and function—and are
used in many important applications for these reasons, from recreational
and safety equipment to
medical devices to
building and construction materials.
Q. What are phthalates used for?
A.
Phthalates are the primary plasticizer in use today because of
performance, cost, durability, and overall product sustainability
benefits. Primarily, phthalates are an important ingredient in flexible
vinyl products, such as wiring and cabling, wall covering and flooring.
They are also used in vinyl blood bags and IV tubing used to help save
lives. Other phthalates are used as solvents or fixatives, for example,
to make fragrances last long.
Q. What is known about the safety of phthalates?
A. Phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied family of compounds
in the world and have a long history of safe use. An immense amount of
information on the safety profiles of various phthalates is available to
the public and users of this Web site.
http://phthalates.americanchemistry.com/Phthalates-Basics/Questions-Answers?gclid=CNy5qKeQvbMCFUWnPAodtxkAEQ
About Phthalate Esters Panel
The Phthalate Esters Panel (the Panel) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) is composed of all major manufacturers and some users of the
primary phthalate esters in commerce in the United States. Panel members
include: BASF Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, ExxonMobil
Chemical Company, and Ferro Corporation. Teknor Apex Company, a major
user of the materials, is an associate member. Since its inception in 1973, Panel members have demonstrated their
commitment to the safe use of their products by sponsoring health,
safety and environmental research on phthalate esters. Results of
Panel-sponsored research are routinely shared with government agencies
around the globe in order to support a comprehensive and thorough
assessment of the safety of their products. Panel research and
conclusions are peer-reviewed and published in respected scientific
journals. Phthalate esters produced by Panel members have been subjected
to extensive health and environmental scrutiny by both independent
scientists and national and international government bodies. Since its
inception, the Panel has funded more than $15 million dollars of
research, excluding research conducted by individual companies. The Panel is committed to continued research and testing of phthalate
esters and will continue to work closely with government agencies so
that these materials can continue to be used safely in a wide array of
products consumers find valuable in everyday life.
Panel Member Companies:
BASF Corporation
www.basf.com
Eastman Chemical Company
www.eastman.com
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
www.exxonmobilchemical.com
Ferro Corporation
www.ferro.com
Teknor Apex
www.teknorapex.com
WOW - ALL THESE COMPANIES WORK TOGETHER FOR SAFE USES, TESTING, RESEARCH!
DO NOT BE DECEIVED!
Who would you believe, the manufactures that make a profit or others...
The Environmental Working Group says:
Phthalates have been found to disrupt the endocrine system. Several
phthalate compounds have caused reduced sperm counts, testicular atrophy
and structural abnormalities in the reproductive systems of male test
animals, and some studies also link phthalates to liver cancer,
according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s 2005 National Report
on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Though the CDC contends
the health hazards of phthalates to humans have not been definitively
established, for some years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has regulated phthalates as water and air pollutants.
AND
In July 2008, as a result of pressure from EWG and other health
groups, the U.S. Congress passed legislation banning six phthalates from
children’s toys and cosmetics. Legislators in Washington, Vermont and
California have restricted phthalate use in children’s goods, and
several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo
and Gerber say they will phase out phthalate-laden toys.
EWG advocates a
cumulative assessment of the human health risks, especially to infants, of phthalates. As well, EWG is working for passage of a new federal
Kid-Safe Chemicals Act
to reform the nation’s toxic chemical law to assure that chemicals are
safe for babies, children and other vulnerable groups before they are
allowed on the market.
http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/480
finally, the FDA information to the "I don't know who to believe" information.
What does FDA currently know about infant exposure to phthalates?
Infants,
like all consumers, are exposed daily to phthalates from a number of
sources, including air, drugs, food, plastics, water, and cosmetics. We
are currently beginning a survey of infant/children cosmetic products to
determine the levels of phthalates so we can more accurately assess
infant exposure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has published
an article stating that infants exposed to infant care products,
specifically baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powder, showed
increased levels of phthalate metabolites in their urine (see “Baby Care
Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure,” S.
Sathyanarayana,
Pediatrics. 2008, vol. 121, pp. 260-268). Like
the CDC report, this study did not establish an association between
these findings and any health effects. In addition, levels of phthalates
(if any) in the infant care products were not determined.
How do I know if there are phthalates in the cosmetics I use?
Under
the authority of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), FDA
requires an ingredient declaration on the cosmetic products sold at the
retail level to consumers. Consumers can tell whether some products
contain phthalates by reading the ingredient declaration on the labels
of such products.
However, the regulations do not require the
listing of the individual fragrance ingredients; therefore, the consumer
will not be able to determine from the ingredient declaration if
phthalates are present in a fragrance. Also, because the FPLA does not
apply to products used exclusively by professionals--for example, in
salons--the requirement for an ingredient declaration does not apply to
these products.
At the present time, FDA does not have compelling evidence that
phthalates, as used in cosmetics, pose a safety risk. If FDA determines
that a health hazard exists, the agency will advise the industry and the
public, and will consider its legal options under the authority of the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in protecting the health and welfare
of consumers.
For related information, see
FDA Authority Over Cosmetics.
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/selectedcosmeticingredients/ucm128250.htm
WHAT, WHY AND HOW CAN SO MUCH INFORMATION BE OUT THERE. SOMEONE HAS TO BE RIGHT AND SOMEONE HAS TO BE WRONG. Who is the real deal.
You decide.
"Wine is our original alcoholic beverage. It dates back 8,000 years and, as Paul Lukacs writes in his new book, Inventing Wine: A New History of One of the World's Most Ancient Pleasures,
was originally valued more because it was believed to be of divine
origin than for its taste. And that's a good thing, Lukacs tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross, because early wine was not particularly good."
