Does your bathroom paper comprise indications of poisonous PFAS “perpetually chemical substances?” Mamavation was requested that query by our viewers and the one solution to discover out was to ship the preferred bathroom paper merchandise to the lab. So that’s what we did in our newest client examine on PFAS.
You have trusted Mamavation to deliver you matters like finest inexperienced magnificence make-up sans PFAS, finest and worst cookware sans PFAS, and finest water filters to seize PFAS, now be a part of us for a client examine on indications of PFAS and bathroom paper. Scroll right down to the underside of this put up to see the uncooked knowledge from our EPA-certified laboratory.
Disclosure: This client examine is launched in partnership with Environmental Well being Information. Scientific evaluations had been carried out by (1) Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Inexperienced Chemistry and Director of Institute for Inexperienced Sciences at Carnegie Mellon College, (2) Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the Nationwide Institute of Environmental Well being Sciences and Nationwide Toxicology Program, (3) Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Well being Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon College, and Co-author of Our Stolen Future, and (4) Scott Belcher, Affiliate Professor with the Middle for Environmental and Well being Results of PFAS at North Carolina State College.
This put up was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations had been offered by Environmental Well being Information and Mamavation neighborhood members. Mamavation has solely “spot-checked” the business and thus we can’t make predictions about manufacturers and merchandise that we have now not examined. Merchandise and manufacturing aides can change with out discover so purchaser beware.
This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks, with some to Amazon, which implies Mamavation will obtain a portion of these gross sales and we’ll use that to pay ourselves again for the testing. You too can give a tax-deductible donation to our client research right here by means of Environmental Well being Sciences. Click on “sure” when requested if the present is in honor of somebody and sort “Mamavation.” Thanks!
Mamavation Finds Indications of PFAS in Bathroom Paper
PFAS “perpetually chemical substances” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used as stain-resistant, water resistant, and oil-resistant chemical substances in commerce. They’ve been used for many years inside client merchandise, manufacturing, and constructing supplies.
There are over 12,000 completely different chemical substances within the PFAS chemical class (together with PFOA and PTFE), and since there are such a lot of of them, they’re extremely exhausting to determine and check for. In actual fact, it is solely actually doable to determine about 100 or so in a very good industrial laboratory.
The largest drawback with PFAS is their endurance — they don’t depart the setting or our our bodies for a few years, which is the explanation they’re dubbed “perpetually chemical substances.”
Mamavation despatched 17 bathroom paper merchandise to an EPA-certified laboratory to check for natural fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS “perpetually chemical” compounds. We included as many varieties of bathroom paper we may resembling bamboo, sugarcane, recycled, and traditional wooden pulp.
We bought the merchandise between October 2021 and June 2022 from Amazon.com, utilizing Instacart, or in-store from retailers in Los Angeles. Listed here are the primary findings from Mamavation’s Bathroom Paper PFAS Client Research:
- 24% of bathroom paper examined at Mamavation’s EPA-certified lab had indications of PFAS “perpetually chemical substances,” whereas 76% of bathroom paper examined didn’t. In different phrases, 4 out of 17 merchandise contained indications of PFAS “perpetually chemical substances.”
- In keeping with our lab, ranges of natural fluorine, a marker for PFAS, had been discovered between 10 components per million (ppm) to 35 components per million (ppm).
- 50% of the merchandise with detectable ranges of natural fluorine had been bamboo merchandise. In different phrases, 2 out of 4 detectable merchandise had been produced from bamboo, one was produced from standard wooden pulp, and one was produced from recycled paper.
When PFAS is detected in private care merchandise, resembling bathroom paper, within the quantities we’re seeing they’re unlikely added on goal however are extra doubtless current on account of manufacturing or packaging contamination of some type within the provide chain.
[Updated to add on 10/22: We tested additional brands based on public demand. 6 additional toilet paper products tested bringing the total to 23. 22% of all toilet paper sent to the lab came back with indications of PFAS. Overall, 3/5 brands with detections were made of bamboo.]
Potential Well being Impacts of Publicity to PFAS ‘Perpetually Chemical compounds’ in Bathroom Paper
PFAS “perpetually chemical substances” are problematic to human well being and the setting. They’re thought-about ubiquitous, persistent, and poisonous. Many can final for years in our our bodies. Due to this fact, it is crucial to scale back the quantity of PFAS you might be uncovered to from meals and water and private care merchandise resembling bathroom paper.
Nobody is aware of the direct affect of utilizing bathroom paper with indications of PFAS, however that does not imply there is no such thing as a hazard. Nonetheless, we do know what the well being impacts are when publicity to PFAS by means of water and meals and they’re listed under:
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Diminished vaccination response |
Elevated threat of allergy symptoms and bronchial asthma in younger kids |
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Affected development, studying, and habits of infants and older kids |
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Lowered a girl’s likelihood of getting pregnant |
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Causes endocrine disruption |
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• Particular consideration: bathroom paper touches our most intimate components — Hundreds of chemical substances are used to course of industrial paper merchandise like child wipes, bathroom paper, and paper towels. However most significantly, what we put subsequent to our physique, particularly touching our vascular personal components, has the potential to have an effect on our well being.
There is not rather a lot recognized about dermal publicity of PFAS “perpetually chemical substances” to our intimate components, however that does not imply that there is no such thing as a hazard; it actually simply means we do not know the extent of the hazard. However we do have some clues from research that had been completed on dermal publicity and that potential drawback:
◦ One examine discovered that dermal publicity to PFBA demonstrated results on the liver and confirmed comparable outcomes to oral PFBA and PFOA publicity.
◦ One examine taking a look at PFAS in toddler automobile seats discovered that PFAS can migrate from material to sweat, suggesting a possible threat of dermal publicity.
◦ One other examine discovered that dermal publicity is just like oral publicity to PFOA and may be immunotoxic.
Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the Nationwide Institute of Environmental Well being Sciences and Nationwide Toxicology Program says “PFAS trigger results in men and women of animals and other people in practically each organ and at each life stage. As a result of bathroom paper is created to rub up towards such vascular components of the physique, it is logical to be involved with this publicity.”
• Bleaching — extra potential well being and environmental dangers — Bathroom paper has additionally been suspected of power irritation of the vulva due to bleach. Dyes produced from petroleum may also be used to vary the colour of the bathroom paper.
In a 2010 examine, they discovered that bathroom paper could also be guilty for power irritation of the vulva as a result of a carcinogen, formaldehyde, was discovered current to enhance the power of the bathroom paper. That is regarding for any bathroom paper utilizing that sort of bleaching methodology.
The American Forest and Paper Affiliation (AFPA) acknowledges these methods of bleaching and as you may see there are advantages and disadvantages to most strategies:
◦ Elemental chlorine bleaching — Elemental chlorine is used to bleach and soften bathroom paper. This course of can pollute the setting. Most merchandise manufactured in North America don’t use this course of anymore, nonetheless paper merchandise manufactured abroad are extra doubtless to make use of this methodology.
◦ Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) — Whereas they do not use the cruel aspect chlorine, they do use a chlorine by-product like chlorine dioxide. This course of is way much less poisonous than utilizing elemental bleach to course of.
◦ Course of Chlorine Free (PCF) — This course of is usually utilized by recycled paper merchandise that haven’t been re-bleached with chlorine-based compounds. As a result of it is recycled with the PCF methodology, it is inconceivable to know whether or not the virgin papers had been bleached with elemental chlorine or chlorine dioxide.
◦ Completely Chlorine Free (TCF) — No chlorine or chlorine compounds had been used to bleach the pulp. As an alternative, they use oxygen-based brokers or hydrogen peroxide. Sadly, TCF is primarily completed in China, which is unregulated and typically makes use of poor and unsafe requirements.
◦ Unbleached — Means it is untreated and usually very tough to the contact.
• Extra poisonous components that do not belong in bathroom paper — Bathroom paper with scents or lotions and flushable wipes doubtless comprise problematic elements that enter as elements or as a part of the manufacturing course of. We’re not sure at this level if using PFAS is a part of how these extra elements are used or manufactured themselves. But it surely’s clear that some of these merchandise should not thought-about eco-friendly bathroom papers or sustainable bathroom papers.
◦ Polyethylene Glycol (PEGs) — This was an issue with flushable wipes. A lot of them contained a wide range of PEG compounds. Ethoxylated elements (like PEGs) on their very own are of decrease concern to people, nonetheless, the method of ethoxylation can depart behind hint quantities of carcinogens: ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.
◦ Undisclosed fragrances — As a result of there isn’t any solution to know what parts are within the perfume, we have now no solution to know if the elements are dangerous or could cause an allergic response.
Artificial musks and phthalates usually cover in hidden “perfume” that’s undisclosed. Phthalates are potent endocrine-disrupting chemical substances linked to weight problems, hyperactivity in kids, and degraded sperm high quality, amongst many different well being issues.
◦ Paraffin wax — That is produced from petroleum by-products.
Due to this fact, choosing bathroom paper that does the least quantity of hurt to each our our bodies and the setting is smart.
• Bisphenol A (BPA) or Bisphenol S (BPS) can contaminate recycled bathroom paper — Whereas recycled paper is, in fact, the most suitable choice for the planet, there may be one soiled little secret it’s hiding — bisphenols like BPA and BPS.
Bisphenols like BPA have been found as a hideaway inside recycled bathroom paper in keeping with a examine printed within the journal Environmental Science and Know-how. Researchers discovered BPA ranges in paper that had been 100 to 1 million instances increased than quantities detected in canned and packaged meals.
It’s because thermal receipt paper and transport labels, contaminated with bisphenols BPA and BPS, find yourself discovering their approach into recycled paper merchandise like bathroom paper. Bisphenols like BPA are endocrine disruptors and research have linked them to reproductive issues, early puberty, low sperm depend, weight problems, and breast most cancers.
(Fortunately, due to Mamavation you now not want to fret about bisphenols like BPA or BPS on the receipt paper at Goal. A number of years again, we petitioned Goal to make their receipts safer and after gathering over 50,000 petition signatures and assembly with Goal, they did so in 2020. Dealer Joe’s, Finest Purchase, CVS, and different manufacturers have adopted go well with, nonetheless not all manufacturers have mounted their receipts so it is nonetheless a giant drawback.)
Estimation of How A lot Potential PFAS Publicity Is Doable Via Bathroom Paper
Yearly the typical American client makes use of 12.7 kg of bathroom paper, in keeping with statistics from 2018, and that bathroom paper results in sewage yearly. If all bathroom paper had 10 ppm, the typical individual flushed in 2018 within the US 12.7 kg = 12,700 g = 12,700,000 mg. (12,700,000 mg paper 0.000001 mg PFAS/mg paper)/individual = 12.7 mg PFAS/individual)
The inhabitants within the US in December 2018 was 328,082,386 individuals. Due to this fact, 2018 Nationwide Releases = 12.7 mg PFAS/individual x 328,082,386 individuals = 4166646302.2 mg = 4166 kg = 4.165 tonnes of PFAS launched to setting.
So not realizing how a lot PFAS-contaminated bathroom paper was used (solely know 4 manufacturers had between 10 to 35 ppm), let’s use the decrease restrict and look at what the quantity can be if 10% of the tissue utilized in 2018 was PFAS contaminated at 10 ppm and all bathroom paper went to sewage. Due to this fact, about 0.4165 tonnes can be launched to the setting by means of sewage sludge and municipal wastewater. Considered one of our predominant advisors has some context so that you can share:
“The film Darkish Waters documented hideous injustice across the PFAS compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). In bringing this injustice to gentle, Robert Bilott, the lawyer who did battle with DuPont over the PFOA poisoning of the Parkersburg citizenry, has grow to be a powerful American hero. His work led to the most important epidemiological examine of all time which discovered that PFOA is able to immense well being impacts at tiny doses.
Different PFAS compounds are recognized to share PFOA’s injurious properties. And since PFAS compounds are typically inconceivable for nature to degrade on any significant time scale, the American individuals can’t appear to flee the impacts.
It has grow to be unacceptable that measurable quantities of PFAS must be present in on a regular basis client merchandise resembling bathroom paper,” says Terrence Collins, Teresa Heinz Professor of Inexperienced Chemistry and Director of Institute for Inexperienced Sciences at Carnegie Mellon College.
Sustainable Challenge — TP Manufacturing Disrupts Largest Carbon Sink in World
There are some extra concerns when choosing your bathroom paper that should do with the well being of our Planet — most American bathroom paper comes from the Canadian Boreal Forest, the biggest carbon sink on this planet.
People use shut to eight million tons of bathroom paper per 12 months in keeping with Client Reviews. Paper manufacturing like bathroom paper, paper towels, child wipes, tissue paper, espresso filters, and writing paper are extremely poisonous to the setting, depart an enormous carbon footprint, and deplete forests everywhere in the world. In actual fact, the paper manufacturing business, in keeping with the Nationwide Useful resource Protection Council, is the third largest polluter.
Probably the most necessary areas on this planet for capturing carbon is the Boreal Forest in Canada in North America. Your bathroom paper and bathroom roll doubtless began there as a tree within the largest carbon sink on this planet. Slicing down on bathroom paper produced from wooden pulp and searching for alternate options like bamboo and sugarcane helps this effort. Watch how your alternative of bathroom paper helps struggle local weather change.
In keeping with a report by the Nationwide Sources Protection Fund, “industrial logging claims greater than one million acres of boreal forest yearly, equal to seven Nationwide Hockey League rinks every minute, partly to satisfy demand for tissue merchandise in the US.”
Lengthy story brief, if you wish to grow to be a part of this resolution, searching for alternate options can be the way in which to go. They’re solely logging the Boreal forest as a result of we demand bathroom paper produced from wooden pulp. Begin demanding bathroom paper produced from bamboo and sugarcane as a substitute.
Options to Bathroom Paper for Your Dwelling — The Bidet
When you’ve ever traveled in Europe, the Center East, or Asia, you will have come throughout a bidet. The bidet makes use of water to carry out the same operate to bathroom paper, however cleaner. Some bidets are stand-alone washbasins which can be situated near the bathroom, whereas different bidets may be hooked as much as a daily bathroom. No want for a pack of bathroom paper or to purchase any bathroom paper in bulk when you have got these programs. Listed here are some bidets to take a look at to chop down on bathroom paper use:
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Howdy Tushy Traditional Bidet (That is the one I’ve! Use low cost code “NUMBERTWO2” for 20% off purchases.) |
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CRX Sensible Bathroom Bidet |
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Sanamity Bathroom with Bidet and Dryer |
Mamavation’s Investigation of Bathroom Paper and PFAS ‘Perpetually Chemical compounds’ — Uncooked Knowledge from Lab
Mamavation despatched 17 completely different bathroom paper merchandise off to an EPA-certified laboratory to search for indications of PFAS “perpetually chemical substances.” The merchandise consisted of standard bathroom paper, FSC licensed bathroom paper, bamboo bathroom paper, and bamboo and sugarcane blended bathroom paper. We didn’t buy any merchandise particularly for septic tanks or septic programs, however a few of these merchandise are thought-about septic secure.
Mamavation’s lab used marker testing to determine the potential presence of PFAS “perpetually chemical substances” in bathroom paper merchandise. Natural fluorine is a marker for PFAS as a result of all PFAS chemical substances are carbon-based compounds that comprise fluorine. The precise lab methodology utilized by Mamavation examined for complete fluorine was the Willpower of Complete Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode.
If complete fluorine was noticed at a detection degree of 10 ppm, the lab did the Willpower of free Fluoride Ion in the bathroom paper by Ion-Selective Electrode after which subtracted that from the Complete Fluorine to find out the quantity of natural fluorine. This marker testing is more likely to present the presence of PFAS, however different prospects are issues like fluorinated pesticide residue and fluorinated prescription drugs.
4 manufacturers out of the 17 manufacturers we examined got here again with detectable ranges of natural fluorine, which implies PFAS is probably going current. Testing for PFAS instantly is inconceivable to do as a result of there are over 12,000 completely different compounds. Due to this fact, we’re utilizing this marker testing, which can also be utilized by the meals packaging business to find out whether or not merchandise are “compostable” or not.
Scott Belcher, Ph.D. and Affiliate Professor with the Middle for Environmental and Well being Results of PFAS at North Carolina State College says “fluoropolymers, resembling polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon®, are extraordinarily frequent types of PFAS that might be contributing to the natural fluorine present in meals merchandise.
Strategies used for detecting particular person PFAS, resembling PFOA or GenX, can’t instantly determine PTFE. Nonetheless, the evaluation of complete natural fluorine does account for all PFAS contaminants in meals, together with PTFE. Due to this fact, this serves as a great ‘spot-check’ of client merchandise.”
[Updated to add on 10/22: We added 6 additional brands based on public demand. 1/6 brands had indications of PFAS according to our lab. Therefore, 6/23 brands tested for indications of PFAS in total, which is 22%. The additional brand we added was also made of bamboo, bringing that total to 3/6 brands with detections made of bamboo.]
• Not our favourite bathroom paper — In keeping with lab assessments, these merchandise comprise natural fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS “perpetually chemical substances.” We don’t suggest you buy from this class.
◦ Charmin Extremely Comfortable Bathroom Paper — 13 components per million (ppm) natural fluorine
◦ Seventh Technology 100% Recycled Tub Tissue — 35 components per million (ppm) natural fluorine
◦ Tushy Bamboo Bathroom Paper — 10 components per million (ppm) natural fluorine
◦ Who Offers a Crap Bamboo Bathroom Paper — 11 components per million (ppm) natural fluorine
◦ DeBella Bamboo Septic Secure Tub Tissue — 10 components per million (ppm) natural fluorine [updated on 10/22]
• Higher bathroom paper — These merchandise didn’t comprise detectable natural fluorine however should not product of sustainable supplies. These manufacturers are very doubtless consuming supplies from the Boreal Forest in Canada or the same forest which is contributing to deforestation and including extra carbon to the ambiance. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is most popular over Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification for fibers.
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Angel Comfortable 230+ Sheets Double Roll Bathroom Paper (made with Sustainable Forestry Initiative licensed fiber) – Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Cottonelle Mega Extremely Consolation Care — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Kirkland (Costco) Tub Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 10/22] |
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Presto (Amazon) Extremely-Comfortable Septic Secure Bathroom Paper — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 10/22] |
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Scott 1000 Sheets Per Roll Bathroom Paper (made with FSC licensed fiber) — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Signature Choose (Albertsons) Mega Extremely Premium Tub Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Dealer Joe’s Tremendous Comfortable Tub Tissue the Huge Roll — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 10/22] |
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Quilted Northern Extremely Plush Comfortable and Sturdy Premium Consolation Bathroom Paper (made with FSC licensed fiber) — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Worth Nook (Safeway) Lavatory Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
• Finest bathroom paper — These merchandise didn’t comprise detectable natural fluorine and are additionally product of extra sustainable supplies like 100% recycled wooden pulp, bamboo, and cane sugar. As a result of typically recycled papers can comprise hint quantities of bisphenol S (BPS) or bisphenol A (BPA), we desire you select from the bamboo or cane sugar variations. Processing is both chlorine-free or elemental chlorine free and fragrance-free.
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Caboo Tree-Free Bamboo Tub Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Cheeky Panda Eco-Pleasant Pure Bamboo Bathroom Paper — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 10/22] |
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Cloud Paper Bamboo Bathroom Paper — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 10/22] |
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ECOS Treeless Bamboo and Sugarcane Lavatory Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Nature Z Means Bamboo Tub Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Open Nature 100% Recycled Paper Lavatory Tissue — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Public Items Bathroom Paper (bamboo and cane sugar) — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Reel Bamboo Bathroom Paper — Non-detect natural fluorine [updated on 3/23] (Use low cost code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off the product!) |
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Seedling by Grove Tree-Free Bathroom Paper (made with FSC licensed bamboo) — Non-detect natural fluorine |
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Sprouts 100% Recycled Bathroom Paper — Non-detect natural fluorine |
Extra Mamavation Investigations to Assist Your Household
Mamavation has been working exhausting to find the place to seek out PFAS “perpetually chemical substances” inside meals and different merchandise we buy and produce inside our properties. This is the reason we have now determined to fee our personal client research on indications of PFAS in several client classes and share that data with you.
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Nut butters (peanut butter, and so forth.) |
Cooking oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, and so forth.) |
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Activewear (yoga pants) |
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We additionally produce other unhazardous investigations on merchandise on your kids or the remainder of your loved ones. Listed here are some that we thought chances are you’ll like.
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Finest electrolyte alternative drinks, sports activities drinks, and coconut water |
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Click on right here for a whole checklist of product investigations.
In regards to the Creator
Leah Segedie is the President and Founding father of Mamavation.com. Mamavation produces award-winning content material and unbiased client research analyzing the intersection of endocrine-disrupting chemical substances (EDCs) and on a regular basis merchandise introduced into American households. She’s been referred to by many as “the true FDA.”
Since 2008, Mamavation has been serving to on a regular basis mothers navigate the grocery retailer by commissioning client research on meals, drinks, private care merchandise and different such merchandise and thus democratizing science and testing for everybody.
