Better yet…how do you pronounce it? Well, according to the dictionary (just in case someone does ask you), it’s pronounced with the “ph” silent – as in “thalate”.
Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s talk about what a phthalate actually is and why we don’t want them in our health and beauty care products. First, let’s remember that our skin is our largest organ and it has the ability to absorb what we put on it…for instance, body creams, washes, perfume, moisturizer. Studies show that your skin can absorb up to 90% of a given chemical that is topically applied. In laymen’s terms, it’s a GIANT SPONGE.
If you’ve shopped for baby bottles, kids sippy cups or toys lately, you’ve probably noticed “Phthalate Free” stamped across the package of many of these items. Why? Because phthalates are used in plastics. Phthalates are chemicals that are used in plastics that make them flexible. Sounds good, right? Well, think again. The problem is that phthalates are highly toxic and small doses migrate from the plastic toy or bottle to anything that touches it – whether that be food, drink, shampoo or a baby’s mouth. Phthalates are also found in nail polish, body lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other skin care products.
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. They mimic estrogen. Because phthalates resemble estrogen, they can mimic or block estrogenic effects in the body. Endocrine disruptors are associated with a number of health problems that are on the rise on the U.S. and worldwide, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility and heart disease.
When it comes to the health of our young girls, the mere fact that phthalates are endocrine disruptors should alone be enough to change our habits or, at the very least, give us pause in our purchasing decisions. A recent study has shown that girls are entering puberty at a much earlier age than they were 20 years ago. Childhood obesity and exposure to endocrine disruptors are suspected to be the culprit.
A team of researchers from across the country report that girls — particularly white girls — are more likely today to begin developing breasts at age 7 or 8 than they were in the 1990s.
Specifically, the study (which involved 1,200 girls) found that 10.4 percent of 7-year-old white girls had begun to develop breasts. This compares to 5 percent in a similar 1997 study.
The current study also found that 23.4 percent of black girls had begun to develop breasts at age 7 — but that percentage hadn’t shifted significantly (statistically speaking) from 1997.
These findings have significant physical and psychological health ramifications for girls. Other research has found that earlier maturation is associated with lower self-esteem, increased risk of eating problems, depression and suicide attempts. Girls who experience a “precocious puberty” (as it’s called in the medical world) are also more likely to start having sex at a younger age than their peers.
Furthermore, early puberty – particularly an early menarche (first menstrual period) – is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood and with breast cancer.
So, now you know why brands feel compelled to place “NO PHTHALATES” on their packaging. And, now you know how to actually pronounce the word. And, most important, now you can make decisions based on real knowledge. (For more information, check out this report http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/NotTooPretty_report.pdf)
*Source: Pubertal Assessment Method and Baseline Characteristics in a Mixed Longitudinal Study of Girls
