September 25, 2002
In a major step forward for science over scare tactics, a staff report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released recently concludes that children who mouth vinyl toys containing the plasticizer DINP face "no demonstrated health risk."
In June 2001, a report to the CPSC by its Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) found that "for most children, exposure to DINP from DINP-containing toys would be expected to pose a minimal to non-existent risk of injury." The CHAP left open the possibility that children who routinely mouth toys for 75 minutes or more every day could come into the range of theoretical risk. But a new study conducted for the CPSC on the mouthing habits of small children showed that "it is very unlikely that children will mouth soft plastic toys for more than 75 minutes a day." The CPSC staff found that "children are exposed to DINP at lower levels than the CHAP assumed when it reached its conclusion."
This careful, scientific report, coupled with the new research data, should put to rest the scare stories about DINP in children's toys. Few consumer products have received the kind of intense scrutiny that flexible toys made from vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC) and DINP have. With each review, the safety profile of DINP has been strengthened. It's time for the activists to stop scaring moms and dads and to respect the overwhelming body of evidence supporting the continued use of the PVC-DINP combination. PVC, when made flexible with DINP, creates a versatile, durable, and low-cost combination that has led to its great popularity.
The report has been sent to the Commissioners who will vote on whether to accept its recommendations.
Contact Info:
Marian K. Stanley
Manager, Phthalate Esters Panel (http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_phthalate/)
marian_stanley@americanchemistry.com
(703) 741-5623
