
Are environmental toxins making me sick?

A Phthalates & Parabens Profile can help identify everyday exposures to toxins from the use of items such as personal care products and plastic food containers. Environmental toxins should be evaluated as a "first step" to help patients get back on the road to wellness.
Why assess phthalate and paraben levels?
Exposure to phthalates and parabens is more common than you may realize. Phthalates and parabens are often classified as xenoestrogens, foreign compounds in the body functioning as endocrine disruptors by binding specifically to estrogen receptors.
Endocrine disruptors are associated with diseases such as:
Endometriosis
Infertility
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Prostate cancer
Testicular cancer
Decreased sperm count
Other health problems associated with daily exposures are:
Liver toxicity
Immune effects such as allergies and asthma
Reproductive toxicity
Pubertal development
Where are phthalates and parabens found?
Phthalates, also called "plasticizers", are found in numerous everyday products such as:
Children's toys
Cosmetics
Cleaning products
Air fresheners
Perfumes
Furniture
Vinyl flooring
Plastic food containers
Medical products
Di-(2–ethylhexyl) phthalate ester (DEHP) is a common additive to Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). This additive helps make PVC soft and pliable to be molded into eye–pleasing shapes. PVC products are marked with the plastic identification code 3. The analytes measured in this profile are metabolites of DEHP. In perfumes and air fresheners, phthalates are often listed as "fragrance".
Parabens are used as preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in personal care products, such as:
Shampoo and conditioners
Soaps
Makeup
Lotions and creams
Shaving gels
Hair gels
Pre–packaged foods