Phthalates are chemicals used in both personal care products, medical tubing and most plastic products we use. In particular these chemicals  can be found in certain children’s toys. Due to consumer petitions – phthalates have been removed from pacifiers, soft rattles, and teethers. It in an additive which makes plastics more flexible, yet unbreakable. These characteristics are an indication of how persistent the effect of phthalates could be on our bodies.

 

There is one phthalate which is anticipated to be a carcinogen while other phthalates have be demonstrated to be endocrine disruptors, cause infertility and inhibit the development of children. For a straight forward article on Phthalates, what they are, the health issues they have caused throughout the world and how you can avoid them, check out this article – How to Avoid Phthalates (even though you can’t avoid phthalates). References – National Institutes of Health (2015). Phthalates. Tox Town. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2016 from - http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=24