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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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ASK DR. DESAI: Tips for buying green personal care products

This is the eighth article in this series wherein I will discuss ingredients that you may want to avoid in products. This month I will cover a class of compounds called Dibutyl pthalate (pronounced thal-ate) which may be found in personal care products such as nail products or household products.

What is dibutyl phthalate (DBP)?

Dibutyl phthalate is an odorless and colorless to faint yellow oily liquid.

What is the purpose of dibutyl phthalate in personal care or household products?

Dibutyl phthalate is used as a solvent for dyes and as a plasticizer for preventing nail polishes from becoming brittle. It is also used to make polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastics soft and flexible.

What kind of products is dibutyl phthalate found in?

Dibutyl phthalate are found in nail products, shower curtains, raincoats, food wraps, bowls, car interiors, vinyl fabrics, floor tiles, and other products.

What health risks are associated with dibutyl phthalate?

Dibutyl phthalate is absorbed through the skin. While dibutyl pthalate itself has not found to be carcinogenic, it can enhance mutagenesis of other chemicals. According to the EPA’s website, “No studies are available on the reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects of dibutyl phthalate in humans. Animal studies have reported developmental and reproductive effects from oral exposure. EPA has classified dibutyl phthalate as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.” The European Union has considered dibutyl phthalate as a potential endocrine disruptor on the basis of evidence that it interferes with hormone function and as a reproductive toxic on the basis that it may cause harm to the unborn child and impair fertility. The EU also notes that dibutyl phthalates are harmful to aquatic organisms.

So the next time you buy nail products or household products try and choose formulas that are dibutyl phthalate free. Stay tuned for the next monthly installation of this series to learn about what else you need to be on the lookout for and avoid.

green personal care products Local Insights
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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