Identifying Phthalate Exposure Risks in Puerto Rico

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has been funding a study known as the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT). The study follows pregnant women to try and determine if environmental exposures to phthalates and other chemical compounds are contributing to preterm births. So far, results indicate that women in Puerto Rico have higher phthalate exposures than other women in the general U.S. population.
 
Phthalates are used in hundreds of consumer products and can be found in a number of Superfund sites. They are a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastics and vinyl. Phthalates can be found in some cosmetics and personal care products, including perfumes, hair spray, soap, shampoo, nail polish and skin moisturizers. They are used in consumer products such as flexible plastic and vinyl toys, shower curtains, wallpaper, vinyl miniblinds, food packaging and plastic wrap. Phthalates can also be found in some wood finishes, detergents, adhesives, plastic plumbing pipes, lubricants, medical tubing and fluid bags, solvents, insecticides, medical devices, building materials and vinyl flooring.
 
“People can be exposed to phthalates through air, water or food,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Many phthalates are suspected to be endocrine disruptors and these chemicals are used in so many different products and industrial applications. The only way to know if the public or workers are being exposed to these chemicals in their homes, schools or work environments is to have those places tested.”
 
Zimmetry’s indoor environmental quality professionals offer testing and consulting services to identify sources of phthalates and other known endocrine disruptors. If issues are found, there are steps that can be implemented to mitigate exposure risks. Zimmetry has also sponsored an educational video about phthalates that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/u5jA4JWa9p8
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their indoor air quality, environmental, occupational, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality (IAQ), asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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