Frequently Asked Question

What are phthalates?

Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are a class of chemicals that are used to make PVC (poly vinyl chloride) flexible.

The term phthalate covers many different chemical compounds with different attributes and risk profiles.

Phthalates are considered an “everywhere chemical.” They are used in a very broad range of consumer products as diverse as:

Flooring	Medical bags and tubing	Electrical wire jacketing
Tape	Garden hoses	Pool liners
Automotive seating	Shoes	Children’s toys
	Cosmetics

Phthalates, like DINP, have been used for decades without any evidence of human harm.

Are the phthalates in toys safe?

The diisononyl phthalate (DINP), the most common phthalate found in children’s toys, has been thoroughly studied and tested by multiple governments and independent evaluators. The CPSC spent four years studying DINP and concluded “no justification” for banning its use. Scientists for The European Union, Notational Institutes of Health, and Centers for Disease control have reached similar conclusions about the safety of DINP.

Why did the EU ban phthalates?

The European Union spent ten years assessing the risks associated with DINP in all of its end uses and determined, the end products containing DINP (clothes, building materials, toys and baby equipment) and the sources of exposure are unlikely to pose a risk for consumers (adults, infants and newborns). The European Union first placed restrictions on use of phthalates in toys in 1999, before the CPSC conducted their evaluations, and made them permanent in 2005, before the European Union published their own risk assessment.