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November 20, 2006

Holiday shopping, toys, and phthalates

It's always possible that along about this time of year, when the Holiday shopping season arrives, some churlish group leaps up to complain about (among other things) phthalates in vinyl toys.

So, just on the off chance that happens this year, the Phthalate Esters Panel would like to review some history:

The European Commission spent even longer reviewing DINP. The scientific risk assessment, published in April 2006, concluded that "... the end products containing DINP (clothing, building materials, toys and baby equipment) and the sources of exposure (car and public transport interiors, food and food packaging) are unlikely to pose a risk for consumers (adults, infants and newborns) following inhalation, skin contact and ingestion." One could call that a categorical assurance.

So why did Europe ban its use? Not for any apparent reason based in science. Let's remember, that was an act of the European Parliament, pushed very hard by pressure groups, and voted without benefit of --- and indeed in total disdain of – any careful review or study or the EU's own scientific review. I wonder if those who tout that ban really want decisions about their health and safety made by legislatures, without benefit of solid expert advice.

If you want to see more scientific reviews and comments about DINP in toys, see the chart at http://www.phthalates.org/pdfs/risk-assessment-chart.pdf.

Posted by Marian at 7:36 PM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2006

Some truths bear repeating!

Based on what we see in the news clips from time to time, it seems wise to repeat some basic realities about phthalates and their many uses. Apparently driven by a recently released report, we’ve seen a couple of news stories linking phthalate with new car smell.

Yes, it is true that phthalates are often used to make the vinyl in car interiors flexible.

But let us repeat a couple of other truths:

They are relatively heavy molecules that have low volatility.

They have little or no odor.

What does that all add up to? Phthalates are not a component of new car smell. Studies that have done some real science on the content of the air inside new vehicle confirm that. If you actually like the smell, we take no credit. Those organizations that assume phthalates are a significant component of car air should do some actual testing. See http://www.csiro.au/files/mediaRelease/mr2001/newcars.htm. That’s an Australian government study, and the most careful analysis of car interior air we are aware of.

Posted by Marian at 5:54 PM | Comments (0)

November 8, 2006

The New York Times makes a mistake!

You may not be a fan of The New York Times, but most people seem to agree that it has the best assemblage of science and health writers of any newspaper in the United States, if not the world. What a surprise, then, to see a mistake in its Tuesday Science section. A story on premature puberty made reference to a study that claimed a link to phthalate exposure. Oops. There was such a study, but it is now generally accepted that the study is invalid because it was conducted improperly. (If you care to read the published critique, go to McKee, R. (2004). Phthalates and Early Thelarche. Environmental Health Perspectives 112:A541-543.)

Would even the best science writers on the paper have known that off the top of their heads? Not very likely. But they would have checked it out before printing it. However, the staff is off the hook. The article was written not by a staffer, but by a pediatric cardiologist from the University of Massachusetts Medical School! In fact, the only outright errors about phthalates we have seen in The Times have been written by consumer affairs reporters, or by freelancers.

Posted by Marian at 3:51 PM | Comments (0)