Plastics Pthalates and Cancer

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

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Ninety-five per cent of the phthalates produced in the world are made to be an additive in PVC because it wouldn’t be soft any other way, and that phthalate may make up more than 50 per cent of the product’s whole weight, and even worse, it is not chemically bound to the plastic, it actually is released like water from a moist sponge if you were to chew on it, or when it comes into contact with saliva or mucus, and in food groups when it comes in to contatcs with liquids or fats.

where does all this and other toxins come from….Oil…

Petrochemicals and their byproducts, such as dioxin, are known to cause an array of serious health problems, including cancers and endocrine disruption. Of the more than 75,000 chemicals registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction have gone through complete testing to find out whether they might cause
problems for human health. Many that are produced in enormous quantities have never been tested at all. Usually, it takes dramatic episodes of workplace injuries or wildlife poisonings, combined with rigorous scientific proof of harm and public outcry, before the
US government will act to restrict or ban any chemical. And that is no accident. The current regulatory system allows synthetic chemicals into our lives unless proven beyond doubt to be dangerous.

so want to know more about Pthalates and what you can do ….?

Pthalates are a particular group of petrochemicals that are known to have endocrine disrupting properties. Pthalates are used to make rigidplastics soft and pliable and are also commonly added to cosmetics.Pthalates are linked to elevated rates of endocrine disruption and arepossibly carcinogenic. A Centers for Disease Control report found
alarming rates of pthalates in urine and blood samples. Somecommon pthalates and the items in which they are used include:Di-ethyl phthalate (DEP): Toothbrushes, car parts, tools, toys,food packaging, insecticides, mosquito repellents, aspirin, and
volatile components of cosmetics – perfumes, nail polishes, andhair sprays.
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP): Cellulose plastics, solvents for dyes,solvents for cosmetics (i.e., nail polish), plastic food wrap, perfumes, skin creams and emollients, hair spray, insect repellents.Benzyl butyl phthalate: Plasticizers in adhesives, PVC flooring,wood finishes, tampon packaging.

check out http://www.mindfully.org/

So how do all those Petrochemicals get in my Food?…Pesticides — One way we ingest petrochemicals in food is from pesticides. Dairy products, apples, bananas, broccoli, cantaloupes,and carrots have among the highest rates of petrochemical residues
WHAT YOU CAN DO: So support organic pesticide free production
plastics tend to migrate into food, especially meats, cheeses, and other fatty foods. More migration occurs if food is heated or microwaved in plastic containers. The
safest bet is to avoid food sold or stored in plastic, especially plastic
wraps, PVC, and polystyrene foam.
The manufacture and incineration of PVC (polyvinylchloride,)creates and disperses dioxins into the air and water. From there, they enter the food chain and accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Diets rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, which
contain high levels of vitamins and anti-oxidants, help the body
combat the effects of petrochemicals. Help counterbalance the effects
of petroleum in your body and world by visiting your local farmers’
markets to get your recommended 5 servings a day of fresh fruits and
veggies.

Its also in all that make your self beautiful stuff too…Toothpaste, Cosmetics, Hair — Many toothpastes include ingredients made from petroleum, Baking soda or
natural toothpaste is a better choice. — Petrochemicals are very prevalent in cosmetics.
Examples include lip gloss, which is commonly made from petroleum oil, and nail polish, which contains petroleum-derived solvents such as toluene. Many cosmetics on the market contain harmful phthalates.

see more about this at http://www.ewg.org/cosmetics.

– Hair mousse, gels, and sprays commonly contain endocrine-disrupting pthalates. (your endocrine system is the one that controls your hormones) Synthetic hair dyes include
petroleum-derived coloring chemicals as well as other harmful ingredients such as ammonia and lead. Synthetic hair dyes are known to penetrate skin and to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Unfortunately …Perfume and Aftershave — usually consist of a combination of chemicals, solvents, and natural essential oils in a base of alcohol, which can include toluene, ketone, and other hazardous substances. Approximately 95% of the ingredients in perfumes are derived from petrochemicals. Little scientific study has been done on the health effects of scented products, but generally they are recognized as highly allergenic and are notorious for causing skin irritation, headaches, and nausea.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: use natural, essential oils instead.

So you want to keep clean…Many soaps contain petroleum-derived synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and mineral oil that may cause skin rashesand other allergic reactions. Instead, look for vegetable oil-based soaps without artificial fragrances.
OH yes sunblock stops cancer…hmmm – Ironically, some sunblocks contain suspected
carcinogens, including diethanolamine and related ingredients (DEA,TEA), padimate-o, and titanium dioxide. Other ingredients are suspected endocrine disrupters: benzophenone (oxybenzone),homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), and the parabens
(methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-). Also sunscreens can containchemicals associated with skin irritation and rashes, includingavobenzone (parsol 1789), benzophenone, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). Not only are these chemicals
potentially bad for you, they’re bad for the environment.Diethanolamine has been found in waterways around the country,posing a threat to animals and humans. Benzophenone has been found in surface water,groundwater, soil, and air, and may affect the liver and bone marrow of animals ingesting large amounts of contaminated water. This and
other endocrine disruptors in sunblocks can also enter the water system when we swim or bathe, eventually winding up in fish, amphibians, and marine wildlife, and posing a threat to the animals’reproductive cycles.
As to Breast Cancer — When so many petroleum products and derivatives are known
carcinogens, it’s hard not to see a connection, especially when pthalates are known to move easily into fats.
And Every breath you take…An extensive body ofstudies has found strong associations between asthma and other respiratory health concerns and direct exposure to motor vehicle pollution resulting from residing or attending school near major roads with high traffic levels. Also implicated are the plastics and other petroleum products used in homes and buildings, such as carpeting and insulation. The “outgassing” of plastics used in building products creates serious indoor air quality issues which are known to cause
increases in asthma and other serious allergic reactions. What we wear — Clothing made from synthetic fibers such as acrylic, nylon, and polyester, and coated with formaldehyde finishes, will continuously give off minute plastic vapors as the fabric is warmed
against your skins (outgas), causing unknown effects as well as known ones: commonly allergies and breathing troubles.
Cotton grown for clothing uses enormous amounts of pesticides and petrochemicals and
may be just as hazardous to wear as synthetics. WHAT YOU CAN DO: choose clothing
made from organic cotton, hemp, or tensel, as well as purchasing reused clothing, which may outgas less. http://www.gossypium.co.uk
FAT is a serious issue as..Petrochemicals tend to accumulate in body fat. (see the bit above about breast cancer) The most notorious petrochemical in body fat is polystyrene; studies have shown that virtually all people in the United States carry polystyrene
in their body fat.
Hormone Function and Endocrine Disruption — Many plastics and other petroleum products mimic the effects of natural hormones in the body, disrupting normal hormone function. Many of the most studied synthetic hormone disruptors are known as
xenoestrogens, because they mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.Xenoestrogens come from factories, not food. But they wind up in food because they get into the environment, where toxic organic pollutants like DDT can persist for more than 50 years. Even pesticides banned in the US, UK or Europe can wend their way back to our homes by
way of imported fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Xenoestrogens can
also be encountered in items of everyday use – petrol, weed killers, even some plastics.

Women men and SEX…yes that made you sit up — Men exposed to pesticides commonly used on crops are far more likely to have defective sperm and low sperm counts than men who are not exposed. This is even true for men who do not work on or live next to farms
but are likeley exposed to pesticides in drinking water.

– Commonly made from synthetic
fibers derived from petroleum, TAMPONS and pads can outgas harmful chemicals and because they’re also usually bleached, they contain dioxins. Traces of the dioxin TCDD – possibly the most toxic chemical ever produced – has been found in tampons and is a known carcinogen. It’s also known to cause birth defects and sterility as well as liver damage and suppression of the immune system. Plus, it can be absorbed easily through the skin. WHAT YOU CAN DO: For thousands of years women have used rags. Today’s alternatives also include organic, bleach-free cotton tampons and natural latex “Keepers.”

Check out: http://www.naturalcollection.com

much of this article is courtesy of http://www.ecologycenter.org

Environment, Community Justice.