Is Your Baby at Risk of Exposure?

More than 80 percent of infants tested in a new study had been exposed to a potentially harmful group of chemicals known as phthalates.

Source.

According to this article, just by using every day baby products like, Johnson and Johnson shampoo, ("Soap free, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist tested") can leave phthalates in babies blood and urine at a detectable level.

Phthalates are a group of widely used chemicals that make plastic softer and help stabilize fragrance in personal care products. These chemicals are found in children's toys, infant care products, cosmetics, food packaging, vinyl flooring, blood storage containers and more, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Exposure to phthalates occurs when you use a product containing them, from breathing household dust containing phthalates, from medical treatments like dialysis that use products with phthalates, and from living near a manufacturing facility that uses phthalates, according to the CDC. Phthalates are banned from use in personal care products and in some toys in Europe.

One study on human infants found an association between exposure to a particular phthalate and male reproductive problems.

Is anything safe for our kids anymore? Between BPA in plastics, lead on toys, and now this, what are we supposed to do? Supposedly right now this isn't a big deal because:

"Right now, we still don't know the true long-term effects," said study author Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, an acting assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Washington, Seattle. But, she added, it's probably a good idea to "decrease the amounts of products used, especially in newborns."

Oh-ok. *rolling eyes* If you are interested; the Environmental Working Group has a website where you can look up personal products and see how "safe" they are for you and your family. There is a section specifically for baby care items. Curious about Johnson and Johnson's Rating? You can click for the EWG's report, but here are key points:

Ingredients in this product are linked to:

-Developmental/reproductive toxicity
-Violations, Restrictions & Warnings
-Allergies/immunotoxicity
-Other concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns

It scored a 4 out of 10 or moderately safe.