Learn How to Do Your Own Research in Our Free Mini Course

How in the world do you choose safer product from thousands of untested, unlabeled and unhealthy options sitting on the shelves of your local store?
It’s seems like a full time job to keep your family safe sometimes.  As our family team has spent years researching toxic plastic alternatives, we’ve learned the ins and outs of [...]

PET (#1) Plastic May Leach Endocrine Disruptors

If you’ve been following the current toxic plastic avoidance advice, you know that recycling category #1 (PET) has been considered a safer choice.  We know it’s BPA-free, so we just use it once and recycle it, right?  Well, that assumption may be wrong.
What is PET and Where is it Found?
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the main [...]

Download Our Free Ebook to Find Out Why Avoiding Toxic Plastic is More Important Than Ever

The Environmental Working Group just released the results of a 2 year study where the umbilical cord blood of 10 random infants was tested for chemical pollutants.  BPA was detected for the first time ever – but it wasn’t the only offender – 231 other contaminants were found as well.  This research demonstrates that industrial [...]

Meet Me at Dr. Greene’s for a Series on Toxic Plastic

I’m honored to be featured as Dr. Greene’s Perspectives blogger this week for a brand new, updated series on Toxic Plastic!
Here’s our schedule of topics for this week:
Monday:  A little background on why I left nursing to research endocrine-disruptors found in food storage, baby teethers and toys
Tuesday: What is BPA?
Wednesday: What are Phthalates?
Thursday: What is PVC?
Friday: How to Avoid BPA, PVC and phthalates
We’ll [...]

The Disappearing Male

Wow.  I’ve been immersed in the world of environmental toxin hazards for years, but The Disappearing Male documentary was shocking.  It has a Doomsday feel to be sure, but the dramatic increases in genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer in males can no longer be ignored.
We’re just beginning to see the [...]

Phthalates May Harm Mental Development and Soften Bones

Yep – phthalates are in the headlines again.  This time with even more damning evidence in two recently released studies.
Bone Plasticizers?
Environmental Health News (EHN) discussed a study published in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry in which phthalates were found to provoke DNA damage that can lead to bone cell death in mouse cells.  According to [...]

Should Toys Made in the USA, Canada and Europe Be Exempt from Lead and Phthalate Testing?

UPDATED 12/23/08 (see below)
My brain has been churning with the new CPSIA regulations on one hand, and numerous petitions calling for an exemption from testing for smaller toy makers on the other.  My first response was a feeling of distress over what many bloggers describe as the imminent doom of many small toy companies.  I [...]

Which Bright Starts Teethers are BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free?

We don’t know.
We just completed a routine follow-up with Bright Starts (Kids II, Inc.), re-confirming the info we had previously been given for our Safer Teether Guide.  We were disappointed to receive a completely different response this time around.
Bright Starts would not confirm that the Chill and Teethe Tubes, Licensed to Drool, and Rattle and [...]

Phthalates: Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

Environmental Health News revealed yet another little known source of phthalates.  We’re aware of phthalates in our baby’s teethers and bibs, in our shampoo, makeup and air freshener.  Now we’re learning that prescription medications can deliver high doses of phthalates as well.
Russ Hauser, a Harvard professor of environmental epidemiology, called pharmaceuticals “an unrecognized source of [...]

Q & A Parents in the Know: Does PVC Free = Phthalate Free?

Q:  I’m confused!  Many plastic baby products are listed as BPA, PVC and phthalate free.  Doesn’t PVC free also mean Phthalate free?
A:  The simple answer is YES.
This is a confusing issue, especially for busy parents who don’t stay up ’til 2 a.m.researching toxic plastics like I do
Phthalates are a class of chemicals that are [...]

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