Call them crazy but the authors of this book increased their exposure to foods and products known to be chemically compromised in order to test the levels of toxins present in their bodies. Seven chemicals are explored - phthalates, perfluorochemicals (PFC's), Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE's), mercury, triclosan, pesticides and bisphenol A.
The book begins with phthalates which are present in high levels in all the plastics we use. Phthalates are used to "plasticize" vinyl and to keep it from becoming hard and brittle. (This is where the rubber duck in the title comes in.) They are also present in shampoos and lotions as their greasiness helps keep other substances supple.The authors state that we all have phthalates in our bodies but fortunately, this particular chemical, is easily broken down in the human body and in the environment. Studies have shown that phthalates can cause many health issues so avoiding them as much as possible is best.
Two useful resources to help you do your own research into the content of products are Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database (www.cosmeticdatabase.com) and "Not too Pretty - Phthalates, Beauty Products and the FDA" a study of 72 name-brand beauty products to determine their phthalate levels. It can be accessed as a pdf file. I know I will definitely consult these lists as I look through my cupboards and check the labels of products in stores.
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