Phthalates .. DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

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.

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