Every home has products with toxic phthalates in it, the products that typically have them are products with fragrance. I should not have to worry about my sister using products with phthalates when she is already sensitive to some fragrant products. The phthalates I am talking about are chemicals used to soften PVC plastic and are in a group of toxic chemicals that are in personal care items that are fragrant.

The products with phthalates in them do not say “This product includes phthalates,” they are hidden because if we knew, we would not buy them. Being the consumers we do not know what is healthy for us and what is not. These phthalates can cause health problems such as learning disabilities, birth defects, infertility and asthma.

The state of Maine has the advantage of taking action to help protect us as consumers from phthalates! In May, we delivered over 2,000 petition signatures asking the state to talk to companies about reporting products with phthalates.

I am asking our Maine DEP to listen to the people of Maine who are asking for more information. We all have the right to know which products contain these toxic phthalates so we can avoid these health problems and be free to use products with fragrances as we please.

Sara Meybodi
Topsham