7 Ways To Avoid Phthalates

You all know by now that we need to avoid phthalates because they are endocrine disruptors (which means they interfere with the natural hormones in the body). Unfortunately, these nasty chemicals are lurking in a huge range of products like cling film, children’s toys, plastic containers, personal care products, vinyl, air fresheners, and even some medical devices.

While banned from cosmetics, toiletries and toys in the EU, these chemicals are found in make-up and perfume in some countries (including New Zealand) and also in many common cleaning products. One of the most concerning products to contain phthalates is applicator tampons and sanitary pads. You definitely DO NOT want these chemicals coming into contact with one of the most absorbent parts of your body!

I found this article about the safety of feminine hygiene products to be very informative.

Here are 7 ways to avoid phthalates

1. Stay away from fragrance. Unfortunately, you will very rarely see phthalates listed on a product label. Luckily, there are clues. When it comes to cosmetics, the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on a label almost always means phthalates. What you want to see are claims such as: “no synthetic fragrance” or “scented with only essential oils” or “phthalate-free.” And always use only natural air fresheners.

2. Crack the code. Plastic products with recycling codes 3 and 7 may contain phthalates or BPA. Look for plastic with recycling codes 1, 2, or 5.

3. Buy only organic feminine hygiene products or start using a phthalate-free menstrual cup such as  Organic Inititiavie’s here.  Using a cup will also reduce a ton of waste, one study states that the average women uses between 11,000 and 16,000 tampons in her life time

4. Avoid plastic whenever possible, and never heat your food in plast

ic. Foods that are higher in fat — meats and cheeses, for instance — are particularly prone to chemical leaching. Even BPA or phthalate-free plastic may contain harmful chemicals. Opt for glass food storage containers, and choose bottles and sippy and snack cups that are mostly stainless steel, silicone, or glass.

5. Eat organic produce, meat, and dairy. Phthalates are used in pesticides and are also found in sewage sludge that is used in conventional agriculture. Neither is permitted on certified organic produce, and pesticide-treated animal feeds are not allowed in organic meat and dairy production.

6. Invest in a water filter. Granular activated carbon filters should remove DEHP, which is the type of phthalate used in water pipes. Unfortunately, some sources claim that a percentage of water may pass through the carbon without filtration. A nano-filtration system is a more expensive but possibly more reliable way to filter out phthalates.

7. Use your dollars to make sense, not scents. Several manufacturers have sworn off the use of phthalates due to consumer pressure. Others have never used these chemicals.

You know you can trust all the products at Wendyl’s Green Goddess, we are totally fragrance and phthalate-free 
Thanks to Huffington Post for these tips – read more here