I am never going to microwave my food in plastic Tupperware or use a plastic reusable water bottle or coffee cup ever again. From now on I am using a real plate to microwave my food, a stainless steel water bottle, and a ceramic coffee cup for my tea. I have recently found out about two chemicals in plastics, phthalates and BPA (bisphenol A), that have been shown to have some pretty serious reproductive health effects in animals. I have found that Phthalates and BPA are in things that we use all of the time. Phthalates are in plastic water bottles and cosmetic products like shampoo, lotion and makeup. BPA is in things like plastic water bottles, baby bottles, CDs, and sports equipment. I am going to try and stop my use of products that contain these chemicals because scientists have shown that they have harmful health effects in rats. Phthalates have been shown to change hormone levels, cause birth defects and male genital abnormalities and BPA is a known endocrine disruptor which means that it mimics hormones in the body and messes with chemical reactions in your body. Some scientists think that BPA might be affecting the age at which girls hit puberty. I was shocked to find out that we are exposed to phthalates and BPA all the time considering how they have been shown to be unhealthy. Phthalates get into the body in a lot of different ways, like through your conditioner, lotion or mascara. BPA can leach into your food when you microwave it and into your drink if you add a hot liquid to a plastic cup. I don’t know about you but I don’t want any chemicals in my body that have been shown to have harmful side effects. I don’t trust the safety of any products that contain these chemicals. I was also influenced to change my ways by looking at the Environmental Working Group’s website, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com , because it showed me how harmful the cosmetics I use every day are and it was kind of alarming. On the toxic scale on 1 to 10, my products averaged about a 7, and that doesn’t seem too healthy. Even though the government says it is ok to be exposed to these chemicals in small amounts, I want to avoid these chemicals and products all together than take any chances.