|
[ 22 February 2003 ]
US product safety authority agrees with use of DINP in toys
CPSC denies petition to ban its use
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has denied a petition to ban the use of PVC in children's toys, rejecting arguments by environmental and public health groups that it can damage children's livers and kidneys.
The CPSC unanimously against a petition filed by a dozen activist groups in 1998 to remove soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic from toys for children 5 and younger saying that there is “no demonstrated health risk” from vinyl toys containing the plasticiser diisononyl phthalate (DINP).
DINP is the primary plasticiser used in children's PVC toys and is considered ideal as it makes them flexible without sacrificing their durability and at reasonable cost.
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 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.
DINP and four other phthalates – di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and din-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) – have been banned in Europe in toys and childcare items intended to be put in the mouth by children under the age of three years since December 1999. This was because of fears over possible levels of their migration from such toys when chewed and sucked for long periods of time and because there was no test method available to govern such migration levels.
Recently, however, European member state experts have completed an extensive scientific risk assessment on DINP and concluded that it does not pose a health or environmental risk in any application including toys. The European Commission is now understood to be reviewing the future of the ban in light of the conclusion and the fact that there is now a validated test method available.
The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI) welcomed the decision of the CPSC saying that it provided yet further evidence that DINP is safe to use in toys.
The CPSC, which has the power to ban consumer products from the marketplace, has spent five years addressing accusations and petitions against the use of DINP in PVC toys.
Resources:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information please contact:
Tim Edgar
Deputy Director
European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI)
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 0032 2 676 7363 or 0032 475 37 66 93
Fax: 0032 2 676 7392
e-mail: ted@cefic.be
To return to the archive press release index click here.
|
