Anyone kow whats are Phthalates and how to avoid them please?

pinkparrott

Hi everyone
looking for a bit of help. I have recently discovered that lots of household items such as cleaners and cosemetics etc have somethings called phthalates in them.
I want to try to avoid these , as i have a baby son who suffered a birth defect (not too serious thankfully) and I am currently trying to get pregnant again, and recent research and doctors advice is that these Phthalates may be linked to this type of defect, so I really need to start buying as natural products as i can,

can anyone recomend anything,

also will these be called phthalates on the ingredients list or should i be looking out for other things?

any advice greatly appreciated.

penrhyn

http://www.phthalates.org/

Of course its probably biased.

Ain't Google great!

PS_Bangor

Phthalates are found in cosmetics/toiletries etc as "fragrance" or "parfum" - unless these are from natural essential oils etc. So avoid anything that doesn't say its a natural fragrance & avoid almost all perfumes/eau de toilettes as most are synthetic. If you look for certified organic or natural products (eg Soil Association or the German BDIH) you shd get good things & although they may look more expensive - usually will last longer & therefore just as good value & much better for you.
For cleaning products etc - probably best to stick to natural as well.
Ref plastics - don't know how you spot them. Try to use glass/ceramic containers for cooking & storing food.
Ecologist website might be worth looking at. Pat Thomas did a series of articles called "behind the labels" & probably mentions phthlates. Good luck.

pinkparrott

thanks will have a look at the above stuff,
I do use some organic things so will do some more research,
do you think cleaning products made by ecover will have them in with being in plastic bottles.

If anyone can recomend any brands or sites for cosemetic and cleaning products with out these please le me know,
for once not too bothered about the cost as more bothered about preventing this type of defect again , as docs advised could happen again, so just want to do all i can to avoid it.
thanks
Jo

cazrobinson

look at https://www.wen.org.uk for more


absolutely shocking that cosmetic companies can get away with these additives is beyond me!

Volcano

Ref plastics - don't know how you spot them.

Phthalates are used as plastisizers in PVC bottles and other soft vinyl products. Easily identified, as the recycling triangle (that most plastic products now carry) has a '3' inside for PVC.