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Phthalates: Are They Safe?

May 21, 2010 8:51 AM

Chemicals called phthalates found in soft plastic products we use everyday are so ubiquitous, that traces of them can be found in everybody. Are they safe or harmful? Lesley Stahl investigates. 60 Minutes, Sunday, May 23, 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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by JudyCan August 25, 2011 10:08 AM EDT
We not only need to be aware of our purchases of plastics but our grown Sons work environment. Handling plastics all day or eating out of plastic bags or heating in a microwave in a plastic containers.
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by rgk92649 December 20, 2010 12:49 PM EST
Phthalates, and other xenoestrogens are too ubiquitous to avoid in our world. Perhaps one should consider trying to block xenoestrogens absorption by consuming phyto-estrogens (e.g. soy protein). Phyto-estrogens are plant compounds which we evolved along side, and our genome is likely dependent upon them to regulate both cellular health through antioxidant enzyme function, as well as regulating some aspects of immune function and inflammatory response. Resveratrol is a phyto-estrogen-like-compound which has been getting a great deal of attention lately. It's likely we can identify hundreds of similar compounds once their importance is appropriately recognized. See xenohormesis and s-equol on wikipedia for more information.
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by barryacik May 23, 2010 8:15 PM EDT
The vinyl on most baby mattresses in use today generally contain various phthalates. A baby's nose is inches away for 10 or 15 hours every day for several years. How much does a baby have to breathe before the baby is harmed? If your baby's mattress has a vinyl cover, think twice before putting your baby on it.
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by Mike02002 May 23, 2010 7:52 PM EDT
There are no effects observed in primates. Aren't humans primates? Decades and millions of dollars showing phthalates are safe for use. Then what, switch to alternatives that aren't?
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by RhondaSherwood May 23, 2010 7:45 PM EDT
Thank you 60 Minutes for telling Americans about phthalates and their possible link to birth defects in baby boys. At the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center in New York, Dr. Philip Landrigan & Dr. Stephanie Engel published a study in January 2010 showing a link between prenatal phthalate exposure and ADHD in young children.

While the science explaining the effects of phthalates on human health is still emerging, we encourage parents to embrace the "precautionary principle" and avoid products that contain phthalates, especially when a mother is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The current phthalate legislation does not protect babies in utero, when the brain is forming and most vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals.

The FDA does not require phthalates to be listed as an ingredient on a personal care product or household cleaner, so we advise consumers to avoid products with the ingredient "fragrance" as fragrance likely indicates the presence of phthalates. We also encourage concerned parents to contact their legislators and tell them you support passage of Senator Lautenberg's "Safe Chemicals Act of 2010." This would require the government to test the safety of all products, including those that contain phthalates, to ensure they are safe before they are sold in stores.

Please visit our web site to learn more: www.cehcenter.org

Sincerely,

Rhonda Sherwood
Vice Chairman, Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center
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by hughsansom May 23, 2010 7:19 PM EDT
Why is the American (especially American industry) approach "Do Nothing!" or "Assume it's safe!" until we overwhelming evidence of danger??? We already know that these chemicals are NOT a natural part of our environment. Why the assumption that they must be safe until proven otherwise?
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by chejNYC May 23, 2010 3:57 PM EDT
Can't wait for tonight's story!

For parents that want to avoid phthalates, go PVC-free! Over 90% of all phthalates are used in PVC plastics, found in our nation's schools.

While phthalates have been banned in toys, they're widespread in PVC products found in schools, like vinyl flooring.

See: http://www.pvcfree.org to learn more.

Best, Mike Schade, CHEJ
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