Posted by deborah

Today I was doing some research and noticed people searching for phthalates. Since I’m a parent, I was immediately concerned. I’d already stopped buying baby care products — as much as I could anyway — that contained sodium lauryl sulfates. Now what was going on with phthalates?

If you’re also a parent, you might wonder what the exact danger is and how to keep your children safe.

Phthalates have been shown to cause reproductive and neurological damage, because it’s a hormone disruptor. (I gave up my nalgene bottle after learning the plastic container could leach hormone disuptors.)

What is the Definition of Phthalates?

According to the Chicago Tribune, phthalates are: “synthetic chemicals found in industrial and common household items, including PVC plastics, cosmetics, personal care products, plastic toys, vinyl products and products with fragrance.”

Some ways you can avoid phthalates include:

1. Read Ingredient Lists: Sadly, phthalates can legally hide under the term ‘fragrance’ so it might be wise to avoid soaps, shampoos and other care products with fragrance.
2. Avoid Plastics: As much as you can, use nonplastic drink containers such
   as SIGGs or Klean Kanteens instead of plastic sippy cups or plastic water bottles. You can use a variety of nonplastic lunch containers for yourself and your children.
3. Use Different Plastics: Some kinds of plastics are not as bad as others. For instance, Laptop Lunches sold by Reusablebags.com are supposed to be safe.
4. Never Use Plastic in the Microwave: Just to be on the safe side, never use plastic in the microwave. The heat can leach dangerous chemicals from the plastic into your food.