What do a pair of boots and a brood of little bath ducks have in common? What about waterproof textiles and synthetic leathers? Or vinyl coverings and certain dental amalgams? At first glance, nothing, except for the presence of phthalates. And, therefore, the danger posed by these chemicals, especially as some phthalates are banned.
But that’s no barrier. Some manufacturers hide behind the multiplicity of standards, not to mention standards that are no longer current, to produce, at lower costs, products that are hazardous for our health. How can we see through this fog? And, most importantly, how can we protect ourselves?
The addition of phthalate-based plasticisers gives plastic, which is often brittle, the desired flexibility, stretchability and elasticity. Use of phthalates has therefore become widespread, even though some of them are now banned, in the same ways as lead, asbestos and hexavalent chromium. Around 18% of the 5,600 everyday consumer products tested in 2018 in the European Union’s 27 countries contained synthetic substances, fibres or heavy metals prohibited by Community regulations. This is huge! Even though standards exist, consumers are not familiar with them. The confusion - and therefore danger – can come from maintaining standards that are no longer up-to-date. It can also come from misusing certain standards, particularly the less stringent standards for certain uses.
Produced in quantities of some three million tonnes per year worldwide, phthalates are present everywhere at different levels in our daily environment: cosmetics, paints, clothing, toys, etc. The risk of finding them in imported items, particularly from Asia, is high, because phthalates offer unparalleled performance at a reasonable price.
Three phthalates – DEHP, DBP and BBP – are endocrine disruptors, whose harmful effects, particularly on neurodevelopment, the metabolism and fertility, are all the more significant when the individuals exposed are young people.
There are around ten phthalates. Not all of them are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. For some, doubts remain, due to a lack of data. The REACH Regulation on hazardous chemicals is specific: toys, for example, cannot contain DEHP, BBP or DBP in a total concentration greater than 0.1% by weight of the plasticised material (item 51 of Annex XVII).
European Directive 2005/84/EC prohibits another group of phthalates: DINP, DIDP and DNOP. These cannot be used as substances or as constituents of preparations at concentrations exceeding 0.1% by mass of the plasticised material, in toys and childcare articles that children can place in their mouths.
Unfortunately, as with bisphenol A (BPA), sometimes it is substituted with a compound from the same family.
It is worth noting that Belgo Prism does not produce any item with a phthalate content of 0.05% or more of the total weight.
For consumers, it is hugely complex to navigate these different standards. While the EN71-3/A1 standard has not been applied for several years, it is still being promoted by some unscrupulous manufacturers and does not in any way relate to phthalates research, but rather the migration of certain elements (metals) into the body. So the best thing is to be informed.
And stay informed! Some unscrupulous competitors adopt phthalate identification under Directive 2007/19/EC relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The values are expressed in mg/kg of food. But what’s the use of this, outside of food? What’s more, the standards associated with this directive are less restrictive than phthalate identification under the EN14372 standard, the one followed by Belgo Prism.
For a plastic, it is certainly possible to meet food contact requirements for the identification of phthalates without, however, fulfilling the requirements of the standard for toys (for children under 3 years) and childcare articles - the most restrictive standard, intended for the most susceptible consumers. The body is not a bag of food! And a sex toy is not used with its packaging! Mucous membranes are permeable, and phthalates can enter into the body. We should remember that vaginal mucous membranes have a pH of between 3.8 and 4.5, making this an acidic environment that can encourage the migration of certain elements during penetration, especially if certain types of lubricants (oils, emulsions etc.) are added.
For twenty-five years, Belgo Prism has been complying with the latest regulations, and manufactures its products according to the only prevailing standards dedicated to the nature of its products. Make the right choice!
