Anonymous,
We've known for years that the common plastic additive DEHP (di-ethylhexyl phthalate) is linked to serious health effects, including reproductive problems.[1] So why haven't we banned it yet?
Despite scrutiny from the federal government, 4 million tons of DEHP are still used every year in plastic manufacturing and can be found in everyday products such as medical devices, raincoats and even shampoo. Now, new research shows that DEHP harms our DNA at the molecular level.[2,3]
A chemical linked to birth defects has no place in our products. Add your name to tell the EPA to ban DEHP for good.
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DEHP is a common "plasticizer," used to make plastic more flexible. But scientists have repeatedly linked exposure to DEHP to reproductive abnormalities, including birth defects and male infertility.[4] In 2008, Congress prohibited the use of DEHP and other phthalates in children's toys and child care products at levels greater than 0.01 percent.[5]
DEHP should have simply been banned then and there. Instead, it's still allowed in plastic products as long as they aren't aimed at children -- and more and more research points to the dangers of this toxic chemical.
Recent research indicates that DEHP can have serious effects on the earliest stages of a pregnancy, breaking down DNA strands and even altering the shape and number of chromosomes in an embryo.[6] Thirty-five percent of clinically recognized miscarriages are caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes.[7]
No product should put you or your loved one's health at risk. That's why we're calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to ban DEHP in all plastics manufacturing.
It's time to get rid of DEHP for good: Tell the EPA to protect our health by banning this toxic chemical.
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Congress took a step in the right direction when it limited the levels of DEHP allowed in children's products -- but it didn't go far enough. The EPA needs to ban all uses of this toxic plastic additive in all U.S.
Join us in calling on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to ban DEHP.
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Thank you,
Faye Park
President
1. Stephanie Dutchen, "DNA damage linked to plastic additive," The Harvard Gazette, January 9, 2020.
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2. "Common Environmental Chemical Disrupts Meiosis to Cause Reproductive Toxicity," Gen: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, January 10, 2020.
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3. Stephanie Dutchen, "DNA damage linked to plastic additive," The Harvard Gazette, January 9, 2020.
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4. Stephanie Dutchen, "DNA damage linked to plastic additive," The Harvard Gazette, January 9, 2020.
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5. "CPSC Prohibits Certain Phthalates in Children's Toys and Child Care Products," United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, October 20, 2017.
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6. Stephanie Dutchen, "DNA damage linked to plastic additive," The Harvard Gazette, January 9, 2020.
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7. Stephanie Dutchen, "DNA damage linked to plastic additive," The Harvard Gazette, January 9, 2020.
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