ABOUT THE GREENPEACE TESTS

• 71 toys were purchased from 17 countries in 1997.
• The majority purchased (63) were PVC or had PVC sections.
• Phthalates comprised between 10 to 40% of the total weight of all the PVC toys.
• DINP was the most commonly found phthalate softnener.

• Softeners are not chemically bound to the PVC polymer but float around like water in a sponge.
• It has been known for 30 years that phthalates leach from soft PVC.
• Over 90% of phthalates are used in PVC production.
• Phthalates are global pollutants - they are found everywhere from Antarctic sediment to air over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
• Independent laboratory studies on DINP show: damage to the liver and kidney in some cases, effects on the reproductive tract, increased incidence of certain forms of cancer and diverse effects on development and metabolism.
• Recently DINP has been found to be weakly estrogenic in some cases.
• The hormone system in animals, including humans, is highly sensitive working at parts per trillion. Timing of exposure is also critical.
• Suspected effects of endocrine disruption include: abnormalities to reproductive system reduce and damaged sperm immune suppression reduction in cognitive abilities ; behavioural changes

• Manufacturers do not provide information on additives in toys.
• Of all plastics used for toys, only about 5% is PVC.
• In 1996 GP met twice with the International Council of Toy Industries.

• April 18, 1997 Danish EPA found three teething rings leaching phthalates exceeding allowable limits set by the EU for food by up to 40 times.
• July 16, 1997 Dutch Ministry of Health found total daily intake of DINP was exceeded for 5 to 50% of all babies sucking on PVC teethers.
• April 24, 1998 - The EU Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment concluded that PVC teething rings made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) leach up to ten times what is considered acceptable levels of softeners known as phthalates.
  The Committee re-examined the issue on three further occasions. They confirmed their previous assessment on June 15/16/ 1998 and on November 30 1998, after they examined major recent studies on the issue, (including the one done by the Dutch Consensus Group Group which plays down the hazards posed by soft PVC toys).
  
  
• September 30 1999 the Committee published two opinions which stated that the two leaching tests developed in the Netherlands and in the UK are not suitable for regulatory purposes due to their poor reproducibility and that the use of the phthalate substitutes that were examined (citrates and adipates) cannot be supported.
  The committee's findings re-open the possibility that the Commission may now propose an EU-wide ban on phthalates in PVC toys designed to be sucked or chewed by babies. The European Commission also said that EU governments may continue to ban toys containing phthalates. "