Milwaukee JS Special Report on Chemicals

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel aspires to be a great newspaper and at times it really connects. Such is the case with its CHEMICAL FALLOUT: JOURNAL SENTINEL WATCHDOG REPORT (OK, the ALL CAPS thing is the MJS fault) featured last Sunday (Are your products safe? You can't tell. ) and today (Part 2: Chemical fallout). The stories focus on the dangers (or potential dangers) of certain chemicals very commonly used today such as pthalates, PCBs, and bisphenol A.

Click here to see an MJS graphic showing where these chemicals likely reside in your house. And here are some ways to reduce your exposure. Some of them are pretty easy, like using glass or ceramic containers when you heat things in your microwave. Use plastics that have the recycling numbers 1, 2 or 5. Avoid those labeled with recycling numbers 3 (polycarbonate) or 7 (PVC). Avoid dryer sheets and look for detergents and soaps that are fragrance free. Use caution with cosmetics. www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Part of the problem is that federal government has not done the testing is it supposed to have done, especially over the past, ohhh, 7 years or so. Studies that have been done show a predictable pattern: industry-funded research concludes the chemicals being used safely and independent academic and government research often says the opposite. BTW, this trend demonstrates why we should all be concerned when our great research universities have to rely more and more on private rather than public funding.

The CDC says:
"How Phthalates Affect People's Health
The health effects of phthalates in people are not yet fully known. Although several studies in people have explored possible associations with developmental and reproductive outcomes (semen quality, genital development in boys, shortened pregnancy, and premature breast development in young girls), more research is needed." National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

The EPA says: "What are the Health Effects?
Short-term: EPA has found phthalate to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: mild gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, vertigo.

Long-term: Phthalate has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to liver and testes; reproductive effects; cancer."

Seems to me it makes sense to reduce your exposure to these chemicals until more is known, espeically when doing so is easy.