Phthalates

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Purpose:

The main purpose of phthalates are to make plastics flexible and strong. For this reason, phthalates fall into a category of chemicals called plasticizers. (1)  

Found in:

  • Vinyl flooring
  • Adhesives
  • Detergents
  • Lubricating oils
  • Automotive plastics
  • Plastic clothes
  • (worst of all) personal care products. (1)

Linked to:

  • Weight gain - activates a receptor in the body that make the body store more calories as fat (6) ** 
  • Inflammation - can lead to oxidative stress, which causes problems with the pancreas and functions related to insulin (3)
  • Disruptions in testosterone - disruptions in testosterone have been linked to heart disease (4, 5) 
  • Increased insulin resistance in children (7,8)
  • Issues with the uterus - specifically, endometriosis (9)*
  • Preterm birth (10)** 
  • Decreased semen quality (11, 12, 13)


*Possible causal relationship; more research is needed to establish a firm link

** Especially strong evidence to support this

How to avoid:

See our take action section.  

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Noteworthy Facts

  • Nearly all Americans have a detectable level of phthalates in their blood (14)
  • Anderson Cooper, a well known news anchor for CNN, tested above the 95th percentile in the US population for a common phthalate known as monobutylphthalate(15). He contributed his high levels to his frequent use of cosmetics before appearing on camera. 
  • Check your floors! Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a relatively common material used in flooring to mimic the look of wood. The problem is that PVC contains significant amounts of phthalates. These phthalates can leech into the air or become dust.