Phthalates Blog

What is the SIN List?

Chris Bryant — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:23:26 +0000

The “SIN” list is not a government edict; rather, it is the product of a group of non-governmental organizations in Europe called the International Chemical Secretariat. “ChemSec”, as the group likes to call itself, released the “Substitute It Now” (SIN) List last year in the hope of influencing public opinion.

This list, which includes nearly 300 substances, including three phthalates - DINP, DnOp and DIDP - has no regulatory or legislative standing or impact. It is not a government-sponsored list, nor is it a formal element of the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH) program. It is simply one interest group’s wish list of chemicals they believe should be subject to specific authorization under REACH.

In June the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) - which is a governmental body - will release its first recommendation of priority substances that will be subject to the REACH authorization process. That is the list that warrants attention. Check back on this blog or visit phthalates.org for updates on this process.

When Science Trumps Emotion

Chris Bryant — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:58:59 +0000

According to a recent Times of London story, Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who suggested a possible link between the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, manipulated patients’ data and misreported results in his research. His now discredited study was the reason hundreds of thousands of parents around the world refused to vaccinate their children, leaving them exposed to life-threatening diseases.

As the Washington Post’s “On Parenting” blog points out, a number of other similar health care “worries” - cancer-causing cell phones, mercury-tainted fish and, most recently, “toxic” toys - have also prompted many to change their habits in hopes of protecting themselves and their families. Safety for our children and ourselves is of paramount importance, and decisions we make regarding safety are personal in nature. But actions based on emotion alone are, in most cases, not productive.

Many studies featured in the mainstream media and blogs stoke our greatest worries - protecting our health - which makes for sensational and attention-grabbing headlines. It’s good to stay informed and read information from a variety of sources, but we can learn to put information into context and better understand the credibility of the sources. Sound science is scientifically credible, repeatable, conducted under good laboratory practices and can withstand robust peer review.

When studies are not grounded in sound science it makes it difficult to understand what they really mean to our everyday lives. An editorial in the Houston Chronicle echoes this sentiment suggesting that, “in the end, science must trump emotion, no matter how heartfelt.”

We welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.

Now What?

Chris Bryant — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:20:58 +0000

February 10, 2009, was the effective date of the phthalates restrictions for children’s products in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 4040). Over the coming months, we are committed to working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to determine safety standards for phthalates. We’ll also continue providing robust information in a transparent manner on phthalates to demonstrate the sound science behind their strong safety profile.

Please check our website www.phthalates.org for updates on our work with CPSC and other organizations.

Keeping Track of Toy Testing Requirements

Chris Bryant — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:32:28 +0000

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced it is considering an exemption for natural products, such as wood, wool and cotton – the main media used in handmade crafts – from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), because these products do not typically contain lead or phthalates. The Commission also announced on January 30^th that it would delay the testing requirements under the law for certain products for one year. For our part, we are committed to working with CPSC as it moves forward to enforce this new law, and to explain the science behind the safety profile of phthalates.

To keep track of these and other developments, please visit the CPSIA website.

Peeples’ Voice

Chris Bryant — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:46:12 +0000

Chemical Engineer Bob Peeples, author of the Earth 911 blog, brings up a great point in his recent blog posting, “65 Ways to Overprotect Ourselves.”

In regard to phthalates and any other plastic scarelore, Peeples says, “As we continue to camouflage the labeling landscape on containers with more and more useless warnings (and multiple translations), people tend to get thick‑skinned. Why label at all if so few people believe that the warning labels ever identify a threat worth reading about?”

Peeples asks us to consider this: “When there is a very real threat, how do we protect the public from dismissing it along with all of the ridiculous warnings that they have learned to ignore?”

Good question, Bob.

In an earlier article by Peeples, “Do Plastics Really Cause Cancer?” he discusses some things for us to think about:

1. Just detecting a chemical in our bodies does not, in itself, mean that the chemical is harming us

2. Finding the presence of a chemical in urine means that our body is doing its job and disposing of that which it finds useless – it may or may not mean anything more than that

3. An increase in sexual abnormalities in newborns combined with presence in the mother’s system of a certain chemical does not necessarily mean the two are linked at all

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Scent and Sensibility

Chris Bryant — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:50:31 +0000

What’s all the buzz about air fresheners? One phthalate ester in particular – the same one used in foundation makeup and perfumes – has been used for years in fragrances, including air fresheners, to maintain the scent. After all, isn’t that why air fresheners are so popular – because of their wonderful scents? Without the phthalate ester added, fragrances wouldn’t last as long. Don’t get swept up in alarmist talk. Instead, consider the source; then consider that this phthalate has been reviewed by the expert review board Cosmetic Ingredient Review, which includes the participation of the FDA, and deemed safe for use by the CIR in cosmetics and perfumes.