New study on prenatal exposure to phthalates

pblge · December 2014

Brand new science!
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210140823.htm

I'm not a huge fan of IQ tests, but this likely is meaningful, especially as it was a fairly homogeneous sample. Here's the key part:

Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals found in the home--di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP)--had an IQ score, on average, more than six points lower than children exposed at lower levels, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health...

"While there has been some regulation to ban phthalates from toys of young children," adds Dr. Factor-Litvak, "there is no legislation governing exposure during pregnancy, which is likely the most sensitive period for brain development. Indeed, phthalates are not required to be on product labeling."

While avoiding all phthalates in the United States is for now impossible, the researchers recommend that pregnant women take steps to limit exposure by not microwaving food in plastics, avoiding scented products as much as possible, including air fresheners, and dryer sheets, and not using recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, or 7.

heathereb23 · December 2014

When they say not to microwave food in plastics, does that include frozen meals like SmartOnes or Lean Cuisine that are meant to be heated in the provided trays? This is pretty much what I eat for lunch every day at work :-(

pblge · December 2014

heathereb23 said:

When they say not to microwave food in plastics, does that include frozen meals like SmartOnes or Lean Cuisine that are meant to be heated in the provided trays? This is pretty much what I eat for lunch every day at work :-(

Not sure. :-/ What number is the plastic?

hopeby2015 · December 2014

Are the numbers they refer to the ones that are stamped typically on the bottom of the plastic in a triangle shape?

pblge · December 2014

hopeby2015 said:

Are the numbers they refer to the ones that are stamped typically on the bottom of the plastic in a triangle shape?

Yes.

hopeby2015 · December 2014

Interesting - figured there was a reason for it but had no idea what it was! Now I know ..

turquoisequeen · December 2014

I eat those microwaveable healthy choice soups several days a week and the number on the bottom is 5 so I guess that's good. @heathereb23‌ might want to try those if yours have the bad numbers on them.

pblge · December 2014

Re the lunch containers--you can also keep a plate at work and pop the lunch onto it, although you may need to briefly nuke it first. These days I'm avoiding plastics whenever possible, as there's evidence that the substitutes for the bad stuff (e.g., BPA versus Bisphenol S) may be no better, merely less studied.

Re the dryer sheets--some of them are supposed to be phthalate free, like the Mrs. Meyers brand. We use those, as otherwise we'd have to wear Hazmat suits to avoid the static in our dry and cold winter.

Canuck13 · December 2014

That is very interesting/scary! I tried to cut out as many phthalates as possible when I was prepping for IVF (after reading "It Starts with the Egg"). Lots of 'woman products' have them, especially body lotions, makeup, deodorant, perfume, etc. I try to buy natural and organic cosmetics now. We switched almost all our Tupperware to glass containers as well.

kmc84 · December 2014

@katemonster1‌ (and anyone else

) I started using wool dryer balls when we started CDing. I don't miss dryer sheets at all! They last a long time, have no chemicals in them, and actually shorten the time the dryer needs to run. I got mine off of Amazon.

heathereb23 · December 2014

pblge said:

heathereb23 said:

When they say not to microwave food in plastics, does that include frozen meals like SmartOnes or Lean Cuisine that are meant to be heated in the provided trays? This is pretty much what I eat for lunch every day at work :-(

Not sure. :-/ What number is the plastic?

The one I had today was stamped "5", so I guess it's ok!

hopeby2015 · December 2014

I was going to suggest wool dryer balls as well! I've read they are much better than dryer sheets!

southernyankeegirl · December 2014

For those worried about microwaving, just buy some glass Pyrex (cheap on Amazon!) and dump your meal in there first.

pblge · December 2014

There are lots of good smelling things that don't have phthalates!

AMShark · December 2014

This might be the push I needed to replace my Tupperware with glass.
For those of you who've made the switch - any recommendations for repurposing the plastic storage containers? The only thing I can think of is storing crafting materials. Anything else?

KT416 · December 2014

I'm slowly trying to switch everything over, but it's hard, especially knowing what is and what isn't okay and what brands are the best.

I'll have to try the wool dryer balls. I've been doing without the last few cycles, but meaning to try something else. Someone on my BMB also mentioned she uses vinegar so I was going to look into that.

We switched over to glass for everything recently too and I just tossed my Tupperware since I didn't have much and it was getting older.

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