Chemical Phthalates in Food Packaging Linked With Lower IQ in Kids
We all want our children to be as happy and healthy as possible, and as parents we go to great lengths to ensure that’s the case. Avoiding potentially harmful chemicals is just one of the ways families can protect their loved ones. And thanks to a recent study led by Pam Factor-Litvak of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University we are learning even more about the potential mental and physical issues exposure to chemicals called phthalates can bring. Phthalates are chemical compounds found in everyday products ranging from “plastic toys and bottles to vinyl flooring and dryer sheets, cosmetics and air freshener.” They are known as “endocrine disruptors” because of the way they have shown to interfere with the way hormones operate. The study found that children whose mothers had the highest level of chemicals in their bodies during their pregnancy, had lower IQs at age 7 than other children. While these potentially dangerous chemicals can be difficult to avoid there are steps parents can take. Two ways the team who conducted the study says parents can protect their children is to “avoid scented products as much as possible” and don’t use “recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, and 7” as those numbers indicate phthalates were used to create those products.
For more information on the results of the study, and more ways to protect your children from phthalates, follow the link: http://nbcnews.to/1yR50cd