• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

One More Problem with Phthalates: Preterm Birth

Phthalates, as you know, have been ordered removed from children’s goods, which includes food contact materials. But they’re still found in common items, such as shower curtains, personal body care products, and various medical products, among many other things. Phthalates soften plastic and bind “fragrance” to the products that contain it. [Hint: look for PVC and fragrance, and you’ll find phthalates.]

So what’s the big deal? They’re endocrine disruptors, which means they interfere with the normal functions of hormones. Phthalates have been linked to early onset of puberty in girls, obesity, lower sperm count and testosterone level, under-virilized boys, and male genital deformities such as hypospadias (in which the urinary opening is located somewhere besides the head of the penis, like the underside). Whee!

And now they’ve been linked to preterm birth. Makes you wonder if we should kick the chemical out of all products, doesn’t it?

[social_buttons]

A study out of Mexico City focused on 60 women: 30 who delivered preterm babies, and 30 who gave birth at full term. The babies considered “preterm” were born before 37 weeks’ gestation.

To perform the study, researchers collected urine samples during the third trimester and looked at 11 different phthalates.

Those with an above-average level of phthalates had a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of delivering preterm. That’s compared to those who had an average or below average level of phthalates in their urine.

The women in this study had the same range of phtalates in their systems as American women.

Because the study is relatively small and new, researchers say that it must be followed up with further study.

The study is posted on the Environmental Health Perspectives site, and is available for free in full in pdf format.

Want to minimize exposure?

  • Click here to read about PVC-free shower curtains.
  • The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice has a list of PVC-free school supplies.
  • Because make-up, lotions, and other personal care products contain phthalates, you’ll want to find some of the safe ones. Look at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
  • Also, avoid products with “fragrance”, including personal care products and laundry detergents. Essential oils are safer.

Image: The 5th Ape on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Follow me on Twitter. Don’t forget your Breastfeeding Twibbon in honor of World Breastfeeding Week.

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Back to School Giveaway from TerraCycle
Play Nursing: The Creepy Breastfeeding Doll »

Comments

  1. Cate Nelson says

    August 4, 2009 at 4:22 am

    M:
    The link above highlighted on “shower curtains” is a blog Jennifer Lance did about PVC-free shower curtains.
    http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/09/18/pvc-free-shower-curtains/

    I’m about to go back in and provide those links and hints, folks, in case you see the blog has changed!

    Reply
  2. M says

    August 4, 2009 at 3:58 am

    Does anyone have a link to a PVC-free / phthalate free shower curtain? I live in an apartment, so installing a glass door is not an option. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. cindy says

    September 4, 2009 at 11:21 am

    i’ve been wondering about pthalates/BPA and gestational diabetes, which also seems to be on the rise (?).

    http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Diabetes+from+a+plastic%3F+Estrogen+mimic+provokes+insulin+resistance-a0141850589

    http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1332664

    http://mommyofftherecord.blogspot.com/2008/02/more-evidence-emerges-about-dangers-of.html

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. chemicals and our kids | No Sugar Added Blog says:
    April 29, 2010 at 8:20 am

    […] me. I know. I was addicted to perfume as well. The big problem is that perfume usually contains phthalates, which are hidden in the non-descript ingredient “fragrance.” So you can unwittingly be […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

More from the archives!

Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

The Amazing Recycled Crafts Contest at FamilyFun.com

I am Not a Mommy Blogger

USA Made Toys: Lunastix Juggling Sticks From Down to Earth Toys

wama hemp underwear

The Most Comfortable Underwear is Made of Hemp: WAMA Review

Simple Organic Ingredients: Better Than Milk

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Great Children's Literature: What's This? A Seed's Story

Giveaway: Win a Free Medela Nursing Camisole

What About Mom: Natural Cosmetics

Whole Children Whole Planet Expo – The Eco Place to Be

Win a Free Pair of ScooterBees Eco-Friendly Baby Shoes

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

stuffy nose

This is How to Cure a Stubborn Stuffy Nose

Five Tips For Talking To Your Children About Climate Change

American Chemical Industry blocks Senate Amendment to S. 510 to ban BPA.

American Chemical Industry Blocks Senate Vote to Ban BPA

Why We Choose Organic Every Time

Baby Essentials That Aren’t, Part 5: Baby Bathtubs

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.