In doing some research online, I came across this great summary about concerns regarding phthalates from the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (which, by the way, is a great resource for keeping a “healthy home”):

http://www.checnet.org/HealtheHouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=509

So here’s the thing – I think we are at the tip of a very distressing iceberg with phthalates. I have just been invited to join in a conference call next Wednesday from the BreastCancerFund.org group. The topic will be the new evidence linking breast cancer and environmental exposures. The invitation mentions that they will be discussing “emerging evidence suggesting early life exposures to these chemicals are critical to a child’s later-life breast cancer risk.”

A child safety act was just passed in the US Senate which included a ban on phthalates in children’s toys. And this week there was a report that showed evidence of endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals in the drinking water in 20 major metropolitan areas.

Again – tip of the iceberg. Expect to see a lot more about combined impact of the chemicals, led by phthalates, that we are exposed to in our daily lives through various means.

I found the whole discussion regarding breast cancer in “Not Just a Pretty Face” book by Stacy Malkan so interesting and disturbing at the same time. One of the most frustrating things that the author points to is what is now called “Pinkwashing”.

“Pinkwashing Definition: a term used to describe the activities of companies and groups that position themsevles as leaders in the struggle to eradicate breast cancer while engaging in practices that may be contributing to rising rates of the disease.”

Think of companies that plaster that pink ribbon on their products to appear supportive, yet their products are filled with the exact ingredients that are being studied for links to breast cancer. Avon. Revlon. Estee Lauder.

According to the book, Jeanne Rizzo of the Breast Cancer Fund said “If they’re concerned about the cause and prevention of the disease – and I don’t know how they could not be – Estee Lauder, Revlon and Avon ought to be in the leadership on this issue, not having to be pushed into it,” Rizzo said. “When new knowledge comes to you that your product contains problematic ingredients, if you were authentic in your support for breast cancer, you would be vigilant in addressing that.” The book goes on to say: “Instead, the pink-ribbon cosmetics companies defend their use of hazardous chemicals (’it’s just a little bit’) and fight to keep their industry unregulated. It points out a lack of sincerity about the issue. They chose breast cancer because it’s women and that’s their market.”

Wow! Fighting words, I’d say! We as women need to pay more attention to what we are supporting is the lesson I have learned. If we want to support breast cancer research, we should donate directly to the organizations that do the research, instead of supporting companies that may be doing more harm than good.