You've probably seen the abbreviations. You may even know what some of them are. Or, you may be new to the environmental toxin world and have absolutely no idea what any of those letters mean. Funny enough, most people can tell you what the last one means. IDK = I Don't Know. My question, if we can learn texting lingo in a few short seconds, we should be able to learn CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) lingo just as easily and quickly. Now you can.
A reader wrote in to let me know that the August issue of Parents Magazine has a simple, easy to follow, chart of common items that contain Phthalates, PBDEs, or BPA and safer choices you can substitute with. I also saw this article and was overwhelming pleased that Parents has finally decided to use their voice to get the word out about the daily dangers lurking in our lives. I'd like to encourage each of you to take a moment to flip through this article. If you don't have a subscription to Parents Magazine, you can find the issue at your local library.
In this issue you will also find a some great web resources for campaigns against these chemicals and ways that you can help! I'd also like to urge all of my readers to at least contact your local Congressman to tell them you support tougher chemical regulation and you'd like for them also!! Do it for your kids!
Until then, here's a basic breakdown of common abbreviations you will see in the article and things to look for in your families daily life!
EDCs: Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals. Any chemical that directly mimics or effects the body's endocrine system.... all of the chemicals listed below and more.
BPA: Bisphenol A. Chemical commonly found in plastics, especially "food grade" plastics. Can be in sippy cups, bottles, water bottles, cans (the white lining in a food can), and tupperware.
Dangers: BPA mimics the effects of estrogen, which could potentially cause a multitude of problems. (See article.)
Phthalates: Chemicals found in plastics and personal care items with fragrances. Most commonly used in shampoos, deodorants, lotions and soaps. Also used in most flexible plastics. Can be found in air deodorizers.
Dangers: Phthalates reduce testosterone levels. Studies have shown increase in ADHD for children under 10. During pregnancy causes feminizing of males (undescended testicles... a problem my twin boys both had!)
PBDEs: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. Chemical used in textiles and electronics for flame retardancy that breaks down and is released into air particles. Found in just about everything cloth related! From furniture, mattresses, carpet, to your kiddos' pjs!
Dangers: Studies are still being done on PBDEs but at the minimum, it's believed to cause conception difficulties for women, and children with high levels of PBDEs consistently score lower on developmental tests until age 6.
How do you keep these chemicals out of your home and away from the people you love?
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