Plastics in Our Products: How to Reduce Everyday Exposure at Home, Work, and on Your Skin

Simple Changes for Healthier Living

We often think of plastic exposure as coming mostly from food containers but what’s on your skin, in your clothes, in the air you breathe, and throughout your home or workplace may be just as important. From personal care products to flooring, plastics and their byproducts are woven into modern life and research continues to link these exposures to hormone disruption, fertility issues, inflammation, and chronic disease.

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Plastics, Plasticizers, and Microplastics: A Quick Refresher

Plastics are synthetic materials made more flexible, durable, and transparent by chemical additives called plasticizers, like phthalates and bisphenols.

With heat, UV light, washing, and wear, plastics begin to break down - releasing microplastics (1 nanometer to 5 mm in size) and nanoplastics (even smaller). These particles can carry toxins and enter the body through skin contact, ingestion, inhalation, and even the clothes we wear.

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Phthalates: The Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products

Phthalates are a group of chemical plasticizers found in:

    •    Personal care products (lotions, shampoos, makeup, deodorants, perfumes)

    •    Children’s toys

    •    Some oral medications

    •    Vinyl flooring and plastic packaging

Linked health concerns:

    •    Hormonal imbalances

    •    Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes

    •    Miscarriages and early puberty in girls

    •    Endometriosis

    •    Reduced sperm function and fertility issues

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How to Reduce Exposure Through Personal Care and Daily Products

Choose phthalate-free personal care products:

    •    Shampoo & conditioner

    •    Toothpaste

    •    Deodorant

    •    Lotions and cosmetics

(Look for brands that clearly label “phthalate-free”)

Avoid plastic microbeads in exfoliants and scrubs:

    •    Check for ingredients like polyethylene or polypropylene

    •    Use natural scrubs made from sugar, salt, or finely ground seeds

Use clean product databases:

    •    Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep® Database (https://www.ewg.org/skindeep)

    •    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) (https://www.cir-safety.org)

Choose clothing made from natural fibers:

    •    Cotton

    •    Linen

    •    Wool

    •    Bamboo

Avoid: synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and microfiber. These shed microplastics into the environment and your skin.

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Household and Workplace Exposure: What to Watch For

Water:

    •    Install a reverse osmosis or distilled water system for drinking and cooking

    •    These filters help remove microplastics and other contaminants

Air:

    •    Use HEPA filters in your home, especially in sleeping and living areas

    •    Replace filters in air conditioning and ventilation systems regularly - these collect dust and microplastic particles

Home Materials:

    •    Choose natural fabrics (cotton, linen, wool) for carpets, curtains, bedding, and furniture

    •    Avoid synthetics like polyester, nylon, microfiber, and acrylic

PVC (polyvinyl chloride):

    •    Common in flooring, shower curtains, and wall coverings

    •    Look for labels marked PVC-free when buying home goods

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Cookware Choices Matter, Too

Many nonstick pans contain PFOA, PFAS, or PTFE (Teflon) - chemicals that can degrade at high heat and leach into food. These substances are linked to hormone disruption, immune system effects, and potential carcinogenicity.

Safer cookware options include:

    •    Stainless steel – Non-reactive and durable for everyday cooking

    •    Cast iron – Naturally nonstick when seasoned, and adds a boost of dietary iron

    •    Ceramic-coated – Choose brands free of PFOA, PFAS, and PTFE

    •    Glass bakeware – Excellent for oven use and toxin-free

Tip: Avoid using scratched or worn nonstick pans—they leach chemicals more easily.

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Final Thoughts

Plastics and their byproducts are part of modern life but you have more control than you think. By making small, thoughtful shifts in your daily routine - like swapping your lotion, filtering your water, or replacing your cookware - you can meaningfully reduce your body’s toxic burden over time.

These changes can support:

    •    Hormone balance

    •    Reproductive health

    •    Inflammation reduction

    •    Metabolic and cardiovascular wellness

If you’re curious how environmental toxins may be affecting your health, I invite you to explore a personalized consultation with me at Way Integrative & Functional.