Greening Our Teens for a Healthy Future
As adults we know what is good for us. And, of course, our job as parents is to look after our kids; teach them manners and respect, make sure they get enough exercise, eat a healthy diet. But do we take as much notice of which personal care products they are using?
A study done by The Environmental Working Group (EWG) in 2008 on adolescent exposure to chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products revealed some alarming statistics. In 20 teen girls aged 14-19 16 chemicals from four chemical families were detected. These chemicals – phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks – are linked to potential health concerns, including hormone disruption and cancer.
Most everyone by now has heard of parabens (widely used synthetic preservatives) and the harmful effects they can have on our health, including links to breast cancer. This study by the EWG is the first to expose statistics for parabens in teens. And the results are disturbing, with two types of parabens detected in each girl tested.





