Both Joe and I have been, and continue to be, deeply troubled about the effects of chemicals in our bio-sphere. Toxins are poorly regulated and tested prior to them being approved by the Federal Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the United States Department of Agriculture.
For those of you that have asked why we refuse to use chemical fragrances and only use essential oil in our products the answer is only as far as your shower drain. Ethically Engineered's mission includes the promise to only use ingredients that safely and harmlessly return to the water table and our planet.
In this article from CNN detailing the "5 toxins that are everywhere" you'll find the problems, research and solutions to avoiding chemicals like the following:
bisphenol A, or BPA; phthalates; PFOA; formaldehyde; and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PDBEs
Ethically Engineered will never contain the Phthalates.
Source: Full Story
Phthalates
What they do: This family of chemicals softens plastics. They also are used to bind chemicals together.
Where they're found: Shampoos, conditioners, body sprays, hair sprays, perfumes, colognes, soap, nail polish, shower curtains, medical tubing, IV bags, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, food packaging and coatings on time-release pharmaceuticals.
How we're exposed: Absorbed into the body through personal care products, ingested in drugs, on food, in water and dust. Infants can be exposed through infant care products like baby shampoos, lotions and powders. Fetuses are exposed in the womb. Virtually everyone is exposed to phthalates.
Health effects: A new study by the Mount Sinai Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research found a statistical association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder years later. Phthalates are considered endocrine disrupters, and studies have shown a statistical association between phthalate exposure and male sexual development. Research has also shown phthalates disrupt reproductive development of male laboratory animals.
Regulation: Phthalates are an EPA "chemical of concern." The FDA allows for plastic containing phthalate in flexible food packaging. The U.S. government last year banned or restricted six phthalates for use in children's toys and children's products.
What you can do to reduce exposure: Avoid shampoos, conditioners and other personal care products that list "fragrance" as an ingredient. These may contain phthalates. (Companies are not required to disclose the ingredients in their scents, and the industry says this phthalate is safe.) The federal government recently ended one source of exposure, banning the sale of toys containing any of six phthalates.
