February 22, 2003
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today voted unanimously to deny an activist petition to ban vinyl from products for children age 5 and under. In doing so, the Commission accepted the conclusions of its staff stating that there is “no demonstrated health risk” from vinyl toys containing the plasticizer diisononyl phthalate (DINP). DINP is the primary plasticizer in children's vinyl toys. The DINP/vinyl combination is ideal for many children's toys as it makes them flexible without sacrificing their durability, at reasonable cost.
“We are pleased that rational, science-based decision-making has prevailed in this regulatory process", said Marian Stanley, manager of the Phthalate Esters Panel. “For anyone willing to look at the evidence, the great vinyl toy scare is history. Five years of intense study by a panel of independent experts and the CPSC scientific staff, including some new, detailed research on the mouthing habits of young children, has finally put the unfounded vinyl toy scare story to rest. The petitioners have had their concerns heard fully and fairly. Now it’s time to move on.”
The Commission’s final decision on this issue is based in part on a new study it conducted on the mouthing habits of children. The CPSC staff analysis showed that even children who mouth toys the most (the 95th percentile) would ingest DINP at levels far below the acceptable daily intake level. The CPSC concluded that exposure to DINP does not pose a risk to children, even if DINP were a component of all toys, rattles and teethers.
The CPSC, which has the power to ban consumer products from the marketplace, has spent five years addressing accusations and petitions against the DINP/vinyl combination.
Contact:
Marian K. Stanley
Manager, Phthalate Esters Panel
marian_stanley @americanchemistry.com
(703) 741-5623
