A study has found that babies are getting twice the amount of harmful phthalates in their diets that the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be safe.
Phthalates are man-made chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible; they can be found in storage containers, water bottles, electronics, vinyl curtains and floors, plastic toys and many other consumer products.
But a number of studies on animals over the years linked phthalates to premature birth, low birth weight, lower sperm counts and anatomical defects in male genitalia. In addition, they remain in human tissue over time; studies have found that almost every person tested in the United States has the chemicals in their system.
In 2008, after public outcry, the U.S. Congress banned the use of phthalates in toys and other plastic products for babies and toddlers.
Because phthalate molecules don’t bind to the plastics they’re mixed into, phthalate compounds leach into the surrounding environment. The U.S. ban was enacted mainly to prevent infants from swallowing the chemicals when they suck on plastic toys, teething rings, etc.
But baby toys are only one source of possible phthalate contamination for small children. In addition to phthalate dust or gasses being released from diverse plastic sources, the food that we eat is also contaminated with phthalates, since the packaging, storage containers and plastic tubes used in processing often still contain the chemicals.
Researchers reviewed 17 studies measuring phthalate concentrations in foods in the U.S. and abroad. They found that meats (especially poultry), high-fat dairy products (such as whole milk and cream), cooking oils and even margarine (which is already an assortment of bad chemicals) all have high levels of phthalates. Consequently, babies and toddlers who eat solid foods are taking in too much of these chemicals, according to Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
The research team then measured potential phthalate intake based on four types of diets: a diet high in fruits and vegetables, a diet high in meats and dairy products, a balanced diet based on government recommendations, and a typical American diet.
The review found that the fruit-and-vegetable-rich diet did not expose people to excessive levels of phthalates; but the meat-and-dairy diet was found to be unsafe for infants and adolescents.
The “typical” U.S. diet was found safe for adults; but phthalate ingestion for infants and toddlers on this diet was much higher than the limit the EPA has set as safe for these age groups.
Fresh fruits and vegetables were found to have comparatively low levels of phthalates. But because phthalates are fat-soluble (that is, they mix with fat), they accumulate more in fat-rich animal foods like meats and whole dairy products.
The study didn’t attempt to uncover how certain foods got high levels of phthalates; but Dr. Sathyanarayana postulated that poultry might get the chemicals through the packaging and in chicken feed; milk might get phthalates through the plastic tubing used to transfer the milk from cow to container, she said.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Family and Your Little Ones from Phthalates?
Because phthalates as well as other toxic chemicals can leach from plastics when plastic is heated, experts recommend not microwaving foods in plastic containers. Use glass or ceramic instead.
Use glass, ceramic, stainless steel or wood containers to serve or store your foods, instead of plastic.
Watch out for the numbers 3, 6 or 7 at the bottom of your plastic containers. Those with a number 3 can leach phthalates; those with the number 6 can leach styrene, and containers with a number 7 can leach BPA (these last two chemicals are also considered toxic).
Additional tips:
- Give your family and your children 6 months and older plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables every day
- Avoid canned foods, as food cans often contain phthalates (and BPA) in their liners
- Avoid using canned baby formula; choose breastfeeding (or powder formula)
- Buy phthalate-free, BPA-free baby bottles (check packaging label)
- Buy low-fat milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, instead of whole (cream and other cheeses are harder to do low-fat, because that usually involves a loss of flavor and the addition of non-nutritive stabilizers)
- Use natural paints around the home, and opt for non-vinyl shower curtains, raincoats, flooring, lawn furniture, etc.
- Dust, vacuum and wet-mop your home often, to pick up phthalate-containing dust that accumulates over time
- Most personal-care products (shampoos, deodorants, skin creams, etc.) contain phthalates for one or two reasons: to make the products smoother and to make their artificial fragrances last longer; therefore, shop around for natural alternatives and cosmetics with natural fragrances (or buy “fragrance-free”)
- The same goes for baby products with artificial scents (Johnson’s ‘no more tears’ shampoo, scented baby lotions, scented talc, scented wipes, etc.). So, look for all-natural grooming aids for your infant online, at specialty stores or even at the grocery store. You can also stick to unscented products. For talc, you can use all-natural corn starch; for moisturizing baby’s skin and scalp, use straight coconut oil or cocoa butter; and for cleansing soiled diaper area, a mild soap, water and a wash cloth will do nicely
- Avoid using store-bought air fresheners, as the fragrances are maintained with phthalates; opt instead for natural ways to control odor, such as regular cleaning, opening windows or adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water
By Lisa Pecos