Happy and HEALTHY New Year!

The start of a new year is a great time to consider making healthier, safer choices when buying products for our home and family. Mt. Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center recently held a symposium to discuss the effects that toxins and chemicals have on childrens' health. Phthalates were a hot topic since they are considered Endocrine Disruptors - man-made chemicals that alter the way our body's hormones work. These hormones act as our body’s communication system, making disruption very dangerous to the developing child.

According to Mt. Sinai, Phthalates are a type of ED, which are found in personal care products, vinyl shower curtains, and fragrances. Research suggests that exposure can lead to problems in reproductive
development, poor sperm quality, and infertility.

To avoid exposure, pick fragrance-free products and choose plastics with the recycling code #1, 2 or 5. You can also identify Phthalates by looking for their chemical names in ingredients:

• DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate)
• DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)
• BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate)
• DMP (dimethyl phthalate)

Tip of the Week:
Take the time to read the labels on products purchased for babies and children. Many products that are marketed as "safe" for babies list fragrance as an ingredient. Fragrance often contains Phthalates.