Push to ban plastic toy chemicals linked to health issues in baby boys
Issue date: 24/05/08
BOUTIQUE sex toy retailers have taken the ethical high ground by warning customers that some of their products contain plastic-softening chemicals widely used in Australia despite being subject to bans in Europe and some US states due to serious health concerns.
The chemicals — used in thousands of everyday products in Australia — are mainly suspected of causing serious reproductive and hormonal abnormalities in newborn boys.
Known as phthalates, the potentially dangerous compounds are found in children's toys and items such as teething rings, rubber ducks and squeaky bath Sex toys, as well as shampoos, powders, cosmetics, nail polish, vinyl, solvents, car parts, medical equipment and exercise balls.
Some researchers have found that one phthalate, known as DEHP, causes tumours and other abnormalities in the livers of both rats and mice. But it is unclear if the chemical also causes cancer in humans.
Controversy over the health impact of phthalates, which are compounds or esters of phthalic acid, has raged for years in Europe and the US, but debate has been muted in Australia. That is about to change with the Federal Government's industrial chemical regulator, the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, or NICNAS, due to release a hazard toxicity assessment for 24 phthalate chemicals.
The regulator is also conducting a public health risk assessment for nine phthalates used in children's toys, child-care products and cosmetics. The first two health assessments are to be released for comment soon.
One controversial US study found that infant boys had smaller genitals if their mothers were exposed to high levels of some phthalates. But chemicals and plastics industries dispute that phthalates have harmed humans over their 50-year history.
US retail giants Wal-Mart and Toys 'R' Us are taking no chances. They recently announced that infant and children's products containing phthalates would be prohibited in their stores later this year.
California and Washington state have legislated phthalates bans and the US Senate is considering a national ban. The European Union also has banned them in children's toys and products.
Consumer advocates say phthalate products are readily recognisable by the sweetish PVC smell found particularly in cheap toys and goods imported from China or India. A flexible PVC product contains between 20 and 50% of plasticiser or phthalates.
Several sex toy operators are among the first retailers in Australia to promote their products as being phthalates-free. And some infant and children's toy makers have followed suit.
Source : http://www.theage.com.au