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Phthalates
And
Other Toxins In Sex Toys
Phthalates
(pronounced thal-ates) are "plasticizers" used to soften PVC vinyls.
If vinyls do not have any softeners, they are basically very hard
PVC plastic.
In 2006, the
National Toxicology Program reviewed the science and concluded
that:
"There
is serious concern that certain intensive medical treatments of
male infants may result in DEHP exposures levels that affect development
of the male reproductive tract." "There is concern for adverse
effects on development of the reproductive tract in male offspring
of pregnant and breastfeeding women undergoing certain medical
procedures that may result in exposure to high levels of DEHP."
Phthalate
molecules are not chemically bound to the plastics they soften,
and as such, phthalates can "break free" from plastic fairly easily,
causing rubber and jelly toys to deteriorate over time. Some studies
have reported that phthalates may mimic the female hormone estrogen.
Most recently,
the Danish Environmental Protection Agency released a report on
the safety of phthalates in sex toys. According to the report,
titled Survey and Health Assessment of Chemical Substances in
Sex Toys, using sex toys with phthalates for one hour a day or
less poses no health risks unless you are pregnant or nursing.
At the same
time, there is a move on the part of healthcare leaders in the
U.S. and Europe to prefer products that don't contain phthalates
in the interest of both patient and practitioner safety.
But the main
reason sex toy manufacturers likely use phthalates is that it
is inexpensive, and it is the way they’ve always done it. Unfortunately,
the industry is rarely proactive about the health of their customers
and instead responds only when there is strong pressure to do
so.
The Coalition
Against Toxic Toys, an adult-industry nonprofit organization advocating
environmentally friendly and nonhazardous sex toys, has applauded
the ban, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2009. According to CATT
President Jennifer Pritchett, the ban "is a step in the right
direction and will, hopefully, alert consumers to the dangers
of phthalates and other toxic materials in all types of toys."
The
Controversy-
There is still
a great deal of debate here. Some studies show clear harm with
cause for respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and damage
to the liver, kidney and the central nervous system. Some are
also suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. However other
studies are inconclusive.
Greenpeace
Says Sex Toys Contain Dangerous Chemicals
Greenpeace
has called on the European Union to ban the use of chemical plastic
softeners in sex toys because they contained dangerous substances
known as phthalates.
Many of adult
sex toys contain the same toxic substances that the European Union
banned from use in children's toys. Greenpeace tested some of
the toys and found that seven of the eight sex toys it had tested
contained between 24 and 51 percent of phthalates.
Phthalates
can disrupt the human hormonal system, diminishes fertility and
adversely affects the kidneys and liver. The substance is used
to soften plastics and PVC plastic. Banning phthalates would just
mean that manufacturers would need to make nontoxic alternatives
which is pretty easy to do. They just cost a little more.
One of the
most common toxic additives is DEHP, a phthalate that is a suspected
carcinogen and reproductive toxicant readily found in numerous
PVC products.
In 1999,
the federal government measured dioxins in blood samples taken
from 28 residents who lived near PVC facilities in Louisiana.
The testing revealed the average resident has three times more
dioxin in his/her blood than the average U.S. citizen. Workers
at PVC plants may face life-long health risks from exposure to
cancer-causing vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals used
to make PVC. These health risks include angiosarcoma of the liver,
lung cancer, brain cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, and liver cirrhosis.
When
heated in a fire, PVC releases toxic hydrogen chloride gas, forming
deadly hydrochloric acid when inhaled.
Toxic
Chemicals & Long Term Exposure
There are
so many toxic chemicals in everyday products. The EU's Negative
List includes approximately 400 different banned chemicals. In
the United States, most of these chemicals remain legal. It is
commonly known that many children's toys contain phthalates but
as of now, this chemical is still not been banned in the U.S.
American manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients
in personal care products, household cleaners, cosmetics, toys
or many other products. So the best you can do is buy products
that claim to use minimal amounts of chemicals, and that the ingredients
they are using are safe.
At what level
do these chemicals cause harm? We are talking about very, very
small amounts of these chemicals. You won't apply a cosmetic or
pick up a child's toy or shampoo your hair and immediately become
ill. The issue is the effect of these chemicals on human health
once they've accumulated in the body for five, 10 or 20 years.
There is also the concern of multiple sources of accumulated chemicals
in the body and possible interactions between the different chemicals.
While the
data is all there, the debate continues over what exactly is a
dangerous amount, and EU officials have very different opinions
than officials in America. Many American consumers are proactive.
They are buying organic food, purchasing cosmetics made of natural
ingredients and toxin free household cleaners. However, in the
United States, manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients
in any of the products you purchase. So the best you can do is
buy products from companies that claim to use minimal amounts
of chemicals, and that the ingredients they are using are safe.
There are less toxic alternatives; manufacturers just need to
be prompted to look for them and implement the changes. It is
starting to happen in the EU but has yet to happen in the US.
The difference
in the US approach is that over the past 20 years, there have
been major deregulatory efforts by the government brought on by
industry pressure. In the last 7 years or so we've actually been
loosening regulations on chemical hazards
Agencies such
as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product
Safety Commission are seeing massive cutbacks in enforcement staff.
To top it off, new very strict rules have been imposed on regulatory
bodies requiring a level of scientific certainty-almost conclusiveness--
that's nearly impossible to obtain. With the current administration,
we have ended up with a regulatory structure that's rewarding
short-term economic interests of major industries in the United
States over long-term health and environmental concerns.
One of the
reasons the EU has taken a serious look at the result of exposure
to chemicals is that the government pays for health care. If they
were to have to pay for all of these long term conditions caused
by long term exposure, say 10-20 years from now they realize it
would be an exceptionally high cost. Therefore, it has given them
a powerful incentive to start reducing these potential causes
of illness. Unfortunately, we have no incentive system like this
in place in the United States.
On the positive
side, there is a growing environmental consciousness among American
consumers in general, so it is starting to make sense financially
for companies to start moving away from toxic chemicals and toward
less harmful options. Some smaller innovative companies and some
larger far-sighted U.S. companies are moving in this direction
to our benefit.
Danish
EPA Study
A report from
the Dutch Environmental Protection Agency was done on sex toys
and outlines in a very clinical manner their findings on sex toys
and the toxins they found in some of them. You may download the
document as we have provided it for you as a courtesy below-
Dutch
EPA Sex Toy Study
Contaminating
Recycling
PVC cannot
be effectively recycled due to the many different toxic additives
used to soften or stabilize PVC, which can contaminate the recycling
batch. Most consumers do not know that a 3 in the recycle symbol
indicates that the plastic is made of PVC, and therefore recycle
those products, inadvertently rendering thousands of potentially
recycled containers useless. In fact just one PVC bottle can contaminate
a recycling load of 100,000 PET bottles. Recycling of PVC is negligible,
with estimates ranging from 0.1% to 3% of postconsumer PVC waste
being recycled.
What
To Do Until They Are Properly Regulated?
The
good news is that safer, cost-effective, alternatives to PVC are
readily available for virtually every use. From safer plastics,
to bio-based materials, there is a growing market replacing hazardous
PVC products. A growing list of companies have committed to phase
out PVC products and switch to safer, healthier products.
Until
there is regulation, consumers like you have to rely on a few
helpful sites, books and videos that educate you on these issues
so that you can make good choices and protect yourself from harm.
That is why we provide not only education, but toys that are well
researched and considered nontoxic.
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The
Holistic Wisdom Corporation