These Are Some Of The Most Common Chemicals To Watch Out For In Products
As the "green" market continues to grow, more consumers are starting to care about what they're putting into their bodies or keeping around their children. Doing research and reading labels on products is more important than ever before.
Updated May 21 2019, 1:54 p.m. ET
Every parent wants to protect their child, it's basic human instinct. A lot of parents view parenting as a way to improve upon the mistakes that their parents made. Recently, there has been a big push by parents into using more natural and organic products in an attempt to shield their children from some potentially dangerous chemicals found in mass produced items. Some of these chemicals have been proven to cause harm, especially in children, while others have been shown to potentially be linked to various illnesses and deformities. Unfortunately, a lot of companies use these chemicals to keep their manufacturing costs lower, hence profit margins higher, and they put the potential well being of their customers behind the prosperity of the company.
As the "Green" market continues to grow, more and more consumers are starting to care about what it is they are putting into their bodies or keeping around their children and loved ones. Doing research and reading labels on products is more important than ever before because there are chemical-free alternatives to a lot of well known products popping up every day. Some of the more well known chemicals to avoid are BPA, Phthalates and Parabens.
BPA is one of the most common, potentially harmful chemicals found in plastic. BPA stands for Bisphenol-A and is an industrial chemical that is normally found in plastic containers and also toys for kids containing plastic. The FDA has said that very low counts of BPA is not harmful, but manufacturers have begun to take notice and BPA-free plastic toys and containers are being produced in mass quantities. BPA-Free is definitely something that all parents should be on the lookout for when choosing plastic products.
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate, more commonly known as Phthalates, can be extremely harmful to developing children and several birth defects have been associated with it. Phthalates do not have to be disclosed on product labels but often times, when the word "fragrance" is used, it probably means that Phthalates are involved. Fragrance can be found in many cosmetic products, including baby shampoos and lotions.
Parabens are generally used as preservatives in many cosmetic products such as lotions, shampoos, liquid soaps, conditioners and deodorants. Parabens have been very closely linked to breast cancer and should be on the radar of women of all ages. Parabens are generally part of the list of ingredients on products and should be avoided if a more natural alternative is present.
While these are some of the more talked about chemicals found in numerous products today, there are countless others. Although there isn't definitive proof of guaranteed harm by using these chemicals, there is enough evidence to show that alternatives without them are safer for your body, and even the environment. One of the keys to the natural product industry, is producing alternative products at a price basis that can compete with some of the more well known products.
If you would like to know more about common chemicals that are found in products, check that this great resource called Chemical of the Day.