Toxic Substance in Plastics Also Found In Numerous Medicines and Supplements

Copyright 2012 - Kris Heeter

Researchers just recently announced that a substance found in plastics, previously linked to a number of health risks, has also been found in the outer coating of a substantial number of supplements, prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Researchers from Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center and the Harvard School of Public Health have found a class of chemicals called phthalates as inactive ingredients in many medicines and dietary supplements. Their research findings have just been published online in Environmental Health Perspective and will soon be out in print.

Phthalates are used as plasticizers to increase the longevity, flexibility, and durability of plastics (#3 plastics). They are also used in a number of personal-care products, detergents, paint, printing ink, toys, modelling clay, medical devices, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, nail polish, cleaning products, perfumes, food packaging, and insecticides.

In this preliminary study, researchers found that over 100 drug and dietary supplement products contained phthalates.

This included:

• 50 prescription drugs
• 40 over-the-counter drugs
• 26 dietary supplement products

The research indicates that this list may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Kathy Kelley, a research pharmacist in the study noted that:

“Given the thousands of orally-ingested products on the market (prescription, OTC and dietary supplements), it is difficult to know exactly how many contain phthalates."

The potential health risks of exposure to phthalates through medications is presently unknown. However, the health effects of long-term exposure to this class of chemicals from other sources is fairly well documented (see below).

A detailed list of which medications and supplements containing phthalates is not yet available but, there are some hints as to which medicines are more likely to contain these chemicals.

Medications that have been designed for slow breakdown or labeled as being a time release capsule or "coated" (safety-coated, film-coated, enteric-coated) are likely candidates.

Phthalates can be easily released into the environment.

While children are more susceptible to exposure than adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that the population is commonly exposed to these chemicals and multiple types of phthalates are found in urine samples of both adults and children.

High doses in animal studies have been linked to changes in hormone levels, birth defects, and damage to the liver and testes.

In addition, phthalates have been linked to:

• allergies in children
• resistance to insulin (a precursor of Type 2 Diabetes)
• low birth weight in infants
• symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

Air concentrations of phthalates is typically higher indoors than outdoors. Exposure can come from the air we breath, the foods we eat, and the products we touch or use on our skin.

While there is no way to avoid this class of chemicals 100% of the time, there are steps you can take to significantly reduce the level of exposure to you and your family.

Some quick tips:

1. Air your house out frequently, especially when bringing in new plastics, carpeting, paint, and vinyl to your house
2. Avoid cooking with plastics or reheating in plastics
3. Avoid use of vinyl shower curtains and other soft plastics that off gas easily
4. Avoid using air fresheners and home care products that are scented, including candles - scents are created using phthlates.
5. Find safer personal care products and avoid anything that has a fragrance or "parfum" - see helpful link below.
6. Make your own "green" cleaning products - see link below.

Related articles that you may find useful:

(click on the title to link out)

Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products are Linked to Childhood Obesity

Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics and Household Product Database (a non-profit working group database that rates the safety of common products used)

Should You Microwave Plastic? Is Your Water Safe If It Was In Your Car?

Resourceful Living - "Green Cleaning" General Recipes (a useful article with a number of options for making your own green and safe cleaning products)

Breast Cancer and BPA Exposure (a useful article exploring the link between another chemical found in plastics, BPA, and cancer)

Canned Food, Bottled Water, and BPA

Know Which of Your Vitamins and Medicines Contain Toxins