Time To Evaluate What Household Products That Are On The Shelves

Studies suggest that a group of chemicals in various household products could be harmful for young girls thyroid function.

Your store manager and department heads might be getting questions about a new study published in the journal Environmental International, where certain phthalates are identified, a group of chemicals in various household products, to be harmful for young girls thyroid function. Phthalates are generally endocrine disruptors and will therefore affect the body’s hormones. They are added to products to make fragrances last longer but it is now proven that contact with the chemical will be negative for your health. The research exposes the risks for pregnant women and children that are exposed to the common phthalates and the consequences are serious. 

Even at low doses, when exposed to phthalates during pregnancy, studies suggest it can significantly affect reproductive and neurological development. Phthalates and other toxins are easily absorbed through your skin in to your bloodstream. Thyroid function is important for hormones to facilitate proper brain development and depressed thyroid hormones can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety as well as metabolic issues. Thyroid-related issues are more common among women than men and identifying what products to avoid can be difficult.

Companies are not currently required to list phthalates on product labels since they can go under “fragrance” and because of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) they are protected as “trade secrets”. This has created a major loophole for companies to avoid listing the actual ingredients. The FDA  requires a list of ingredients but fragrance and flavor can hide up to 5,000 different ingredients. Phthalates can also be found in plastics, pesticides, and water but is particularly difficult for consumers to identify when used as a “fragrance”. 

Even if you decide to only buy fragrance-free product be cautious with products labeled as “unscented”. These products can contain hidden chemicals used to mask the original scent and would still only be listed under “fragrance”. The option is to purchase “fragrance-free,” “no-synthetic fragrance,” “scented with only essential oils,” or “phthalate-free.” To be completely sure of the ingredients in a specific product you can go to Skin Deep or Gimme The Good Stuff and carefully check out detailed labels. 

Products that contain phthalates in FRAGRANCE:

1. Glade Tough Odor Solutions with Oust Air Sanitizer
2. Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care 
3. 3M Disinfectant Cleaners
4. Scotchguard Deodorizer
5. Scoth-Brite Surface Cleaner 
6. Tami-Shield Surface Care
7. TroubleShooter Cleaner
8. Clairol Hair Conditioner
9. Sebastian Hair Styling
10. Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash

Read the full report from Environmental Health Strategy Center to find more products that contain toxic phthalates.