Accidentally Green

Making Healthy Decisions That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment

Phthalates, Yet Again

What would Accidentally Green be like without warnings about phthalates? Yet again, these nasty chemicals that damage a child’s reproductive system are present.

phthalate toysPhthalates soften plastic, so watch out for soft plastic toys – phthalates are commonly found in bath toys. Also be on the lookout for toys made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The PVC is filled with phthalates and also releases toxins into the air. 1

Three phthalates (BBP, DBP, and DEHP) were banned from toys in 2008 with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. But some toy manufacturers already had started phasing the toxins out of toy production in 1999 – Arco Toys, Chicco, Disney, Evenflo, The First Years, Gerber, Hasbro (Playskool), Little Tikes, Mattel (Fisher-Price), Safety 1st, Sassy, Shelcore Toys and Tyco Preschool stopped making teethers with phthalates.

Even though the phthalate ban is in effect, shop for toys that are labeled “phthalate-free” – or try to use latex or silicone toys and teethers, instead of plastic. 2

Sources

1.  “Toxic Hazards. Toy Safety.” U.S. PIRG.
“How to Green the Kids’ Toys.” eHow.
2.  “How to Stay AwayFrom Phthalates in Toys.” eHow.

Photo credit

Clare Bloomfield/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Hilary Kimes Bernstein

Hilary Kimes Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and journalist. She writes about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. Short and sweet - like her writing - Hilary is the author of several healthy living eBooks.

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