Since my last post about BPA there has been another report out about phthalates, another potentially dangerous chemical compound found in plastics. The reason why this is important is it has been found that phthalates cause problems with male reproductive organs. This is scary and I feel it is just what they have found at this point- what else will they find?
Phthalates are used as a compound that makes plastic more flexible as well as found in the ingredients of personal care products that are just listed as “fragrance”. Here is a short list of some common items it can be found in: cosmetics, lotion, toys, teethers, flooring, adhesives, wallpaper, furniture, raincoats and shower curtains*. Aside from it being a possible ingredient, many products that we use are housed in phthalate plastic containers and it has been found that the chemicals again can leach into the products we use. What makes this tricky is phthalates are not specifically listed on most products out there.
So I am venturing again to find products that are phthalate free. A number of stores such as Walmart, Sears and Toys ‘R Us are vowing to phase out products that have phthalates in them. A number of toy and baby product companies are volunteering to discontinue using them in their items such as teethers and pacifiers. For baby shampoos and soaps Burt’s Bees, Aubrey Organics and California Baby come up pretty high on most lists I looked at on the “buying guide”, as well as Dr. Bronner’s (my family has been loving it for years- just laugh when you read the bottle). Some products from the “buying guide” will be a little harder to find and a little more expensive. Whole Foods, natural grocer’s and the internet will be the best places to look for these products.
Skin Deep Parent’s Buying Guide a great guide to finding products without harmful chemicals.
Skin Deep’s ingredient list to avoid.
Stolen Furniture’s article on phthalates
handmade, phthalate free baby soaps from Wildly Lucky Soap/Serendipity Soap Dish
Natural Rubber Pacifiers
**You can find PVC-free, EVA shower curtains at Ikea and Target.
Our local Target has both Burt’s Bees Baby and California Baby.
Hi Amy! This is a timely and informative post! So many moms have no idea how little the baby products on the market are regulated…the more we know, the more we can change things!
Thanks for linking to our safe, natural soaps!
Tiff & Ash
The soapchix
I just saw a TV show on WGBH about this. It surprised me that the EU has banned phthalates across the board, but not that lobbyists have invaded Washington to prevent phthalate bans. Ugh!
If I’m not mistaken, California has banned phthalates, right? And Walmart has voluntarily started to offer some phthalate free toys, but they are not required to do so by any laws.
Yes, you’re right, California does prohibit sales of baby products with phthalates in them (it has to be over a certain level though) and Wal-mart along with Sears, Babies R’Us and a few others are voluntarily removing and phasing out phthalate ridden toys. To me that speaks volumes- that major retail chains are seeing and acknowledging a potential harm (and possible lawsuits) and electing to remove those items. When will the government catch-up!! Again you are right about the EU- the first country in the EU to push for it was Austria, in 1999- almost 10 years ago!
I will continue to follow this issue and supply updates and links when I can.
Hi -
Belli Skin care http://www.bellicosmetics.com is also a really great 100% phthalate free skin care range and is TRULY beautiful. i spoke with Dr Rubin from Belli as i was concerned about their ranking on the “buyers guide” and it seems that site does not update new product advances and formulas and only have the review on the old products! what a pain, i only found out because my obstetrician recommended that i use nothing else.
So to set the record straight Belli Baby is 100% phthalate free, free of all parabens, sythetic fragrances and for one up on any other product i have come across they are the only company that screens for all other xenoestrogens which i have recently found out phthalates are just one… Belli really does take that one step further and well worth a try if you have not done so as yet.