Sep 16 2009
Personal care products that we use everyday contain chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors, which hinder the normal functions of our hormone systems. Phthalates, also known as plasticizers, are added to plastics to make them flexible to mold into shapes for product packaging and as fragrance for perfumes and air fresheners. Parabens are added to personal care products, such as cosmetics, to extend shelf-life and eliminate fungi and bacteria.
Today, Metametrix Clinical Laboratory announces the Phthalates & Parabens Profile, which analyzes eight different markers to identify exposure levels to chemicals in everyday products. These chemicals are shown to be endocrine disruptors and possible contributors to disorders such as endometriosis, estrogen-sensitive cancers, and male and female infertility. Recent evidence suggests phthalate exposure may be related to the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and childhood asthma.
"Consumers use a variety of products, from shampoo, lotions, cosmetics, and hair gels to convenient foods packaged in plastics, increasing exposure to toxins every day," says Dr. J. Alexander Bralley, CEO of Metametrix Clinical Laboratory. "The new Phthalates & Parabens Profile is designed to show an individual's level of these compounds, which can be used by practitioners to determine and eliminate a patient's exposure source."
"It is no longer a question of if we are burdened by toxins. It is a question of how burdened we are and whether these toxins are keeping us from the health we desire," states Dr. Walter J. Crinnion, Environmental Health Specialist. "Finding the burden and removing the sources of toxicity are critical steps in the road to recovery of health."
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