Most people have never heard of phthalates! They are a family of odorlessand colorless low volatility chemical substances that are used as plasticizers,in personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Several phthalates havebeen confirmed to be hazardous and some are potential endocrine disruptorsas they have been associated with hormonal changes. We are exposed in more ways than we can imagine. Phthalate introductioninto our bodies by ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and...
More DescriptionMost people have never heard of phthalates! They are a family of odorlessand colorless low volatility chemical substances that are used as plasticizers,in personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. Several phthalates havebeen confirmed to be hazardous and some are potential endocrine disruptorsas they have been associated with hormonal changes. We are exposed in more ways than we can imagine. Phthalate introductioninto our bodies by ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and intravenousinjection, to name a few. A number of phthalate exposure studies haverevealed one certainty: phthalates pose a risk for the general health andwellbeing of both children and adults across the board. How muchexposure is considered safe? We do not have any clear and definitiveanswers yet!Scientific inquiry over the span of the last decade has surfaced an almost innumerable number of potential toxic side-effects of phthalate exposure in humans. Laws passed in the US, as well as in the EU and China, have aided in limiting phthalate use. But these laws are weak.The larger questions still remain: how much phthalate exposure do weexperience on a daily basis from just existing in our homes and residentialspaces? How can we quantify such exposure and create a safer environmentin our everyday spaces? In the long run the challenge for chemical and material engineers is to synthesize safer alternatives and innovate alternative manufacturingmethods to mitigate if not eliminate the use of phthalates.