Phthalates, called “plasticizers,” are a group of industrial chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible or resilient and also as solvents. Phthalates are nearly ubiquitous in modern society, found in, among other things, toys, food packaging, hoses, raincoats, shower curtains, vinyl flooring, wall coverings, lubricants, adhesives, detergents, nail polish, hair spray and shampoo.
They are a family of chemical substances that have been in use for about 50 years, so I believe the recent focus on this material was just another study that the media rushed into publication without any pause to examine how it was assembled. So is this another hysteria over chemicals from the environmentalists?
