Environmental Health Threats to Children

A Look at the Facts

KNOW YOUR A.B.C'sby Dr. Joyce M. Woods

Begin by thinking of your home as a toxic waste dump. The average home today contains 62 toxic chemicals - more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century. More than 72,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced since WW II. Less than 2% of synthetic chemicals have been tested for toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, or birth defects. The majority of chemicals have never been tested for long-term effects.

Chemicals in Many Cosmetics Detrimental to Your Unborn Son

Researchers may have uncovered one reason why some males have problems with infertility: For the first time, a study has discovered the more a pregnant woman is exposed to high, but common, levels of a widely used chemical, known as phthalate, found in:
Cosmetics
Nail Polish
Perfumes
Hair Sprays
Fragrances
Plastics
Paints
... the greater the risk her son will have smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired reproductive development. In fact, such alterations were present based on phthalate levels found in one-quarter of U.S. women.
Phthalate Findings
Researchers tested levels of four kinds of phthalates in the urine of pregnant women; they examined 134 of the baby boys, ages 2-30 months, born to those women.
While none of the boys showed clear malformation or disease, in the 25 percent of mothers with the greatest exposure to phthalate:
The odds were 10 times higher that their sons would have a shorter-than-expected distance between the anus and the base of the penis. (This measurement is an indictor of impacts on their reproductive system.)
In defense of the findings, the Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association claims the use of phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products is backed by an extensive body of scientific research and data that verifies safety.
However, phthalate exposure has never been studied in infant boys until now.
Environmental Health Perspectives May 27, 2005 (Free Full-Text Article)
USA Today May 26, 2005

Formaldehyde!

Formaldehyde - a known carcinogen (causes cancer). Causes allergic, irritant and contact dermatitis, headaches and chronic fatigue. The vapour is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose and throat (mucous membranes).
Formaldehyde - A colorless gaseous compound, HCHO, the simplest formaldehyde, used for manufacturing melamine and phonetic resin, fertilizers, dyes, and embalming fluid and in aqueous solutions (dissolved in water) as a preservative and disinfectant.