Results of New Dutch Study Fail to Establish Test for Toxics in

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GREENPEACE WARNS: RESULTS OF NEW DUTCH STUDY FAIL TO 
ESTABLISH TEST FOR TOXICS IN SOFT PVC TOYS: BAN URGENTLY
REQUIRED

BRUSSELS Sept 22, 1998 - A six-month study, released today by
the  Dutch Government, to establish a good standard test to
measure the  rate of leaching of chemical additives from soft
PVC toys has failed  in its mission, warns Greenpeace.  

Due to the differences in various testing results, the study
cannot be used to predict the rates of leaching from toys such
as teethers.  Significantly, the Dutch Consumer organisation,
Consumentbond, which  also served on the study's Committee, has
now called for a ban on  soft PVC toy, because of the 'lack of
a solid analytical method'.

"The Dutch study has delayed European wide restrictions on soft
PVC  toys for several months, while children continue to be
exposed to  these hazardous substances in toys.  Now it's time
for politicians  throughout the EU to ban these toys - the
failure of this study  should not be used to justify further
delay."  said Madeleine Cobbing  of Greenpeace International. 

On the 1 July 1998 the European Commission recommended
Member States act to ensure a high level of protection of 
childrens' health (1).  Three EU countries, Austria, Denmark and
Sweden have  already proposed legislation to ban the chemical
softeners known as  phthalates in toys, and consider it
necessary to prevent children  from being exposed to any
quantity of phthalates from soft PVC toys.

The study also revised the criteria for assessing exposure and 
re-evaluated the risks to children who play with soft PVC toys. 
Even  then, the levels of phthalates likely to be ingested by
children  under 12 months chewing on soft PVC toys exceed the
safety limits in  extreme cases, although the study concludes
that the children over 12  months are within safety limits.  

In its assumption ''that soft PVC baby toys are the most
important  source of exposure of babies to (the phthalate) 
DINP'  the  study fails to take into account other sources of
exposure such  as food. Other scientists, in particular the
expert Committee of the  European Commission (2), have concluded
that children could be  exposed to levels which exceed the
guidelines. 

Greenpeace first drew attention to the problem a year ago by 
releasing a report showing that soft PVC toys for children, such
as  teethers, contain up to 40% by weight of phthalates (3). 
Independent  laboratory tests conducted on animals show that
phthalates are toxic,  with health effects ranging from liver
and kidney damage to  reproductive abnormalities (4). 

The 'Dutch Technical Consensus Committee' (5), which conducted
the  study, is dominated by representatives from the chemical
and toys  industry, who have responsibility for key parts of the
test.  Representatives on the Committee include Exxon, Mattel,
and the PVC  and plasticiser industries.  Another
representative,  Mr. de Rijk,  also contributed to a study on
the same issue by the Weinberg Group,  which has close links
with industry (6).   

"The Dutch study has simply moved the goalposts to arrive at its
own  conclusion,"  said Cobbing.  "While the industry claims
these toys  are 'safe, in the face of continuing uncertainty
over PVC,  parents  all over Europe should continue to avoid
these products."

The entire life cycle of PVC plastic is a polluting process. Its 
production involves highly toxic chemicals and generates
hazardous  emissions and wastes. When burned in accidental fires
or waste  incinerators, PVC is a significant source of dioxin
and other  hazardous wastes. ENDS

Contact:   Madeleine Cobbing, Greenpeace International, +44 1453
753  988, Eco Matser, Greenpeace Netherlands, +31 20 626 1877

Notes to Editors:

1.  The European Commission Recommendation to Member States also 
asked them  check that the migration of phthalates, from soft
PVC  toys does not exceed the limits proposed by the Scientific
Committee  on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment.  It was
hoped that the  Dutch study would provide a "standardised and
validated in vitro test  method on phthalate release". 
Greenpeace and other organisations  have criticised the attempt
to find a standard test as unacceptable  since such tests are
not a reliable indication of children's exposure  to these
chemicals and that they start from the assumption that some 
level of exposure is acceptable even though it is easily
avoidable. 

2. Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the 
Environment

3. Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Determination of the
composition and Quantity of Phthalate Ester Additives in PVC
Children's Toys,  Technical Note 06/97, September 1997

4.  Aristech (1995) Aristech Chemical Corporation Material
Safety  Data sheet C1084E. Product code 1546: Diisononyl
phthalate. & other  references listed in (2) above

5.  The 'Dutch Technical Consensus Committee' was Established by
Mrs  Terpstra, the Dutch Minister for the Environment, to
investigate the  leaching of phthalates from soft PVC baby toys.
The committee  consists of the chair, Mr.  Konemann of the RIVM
(Governmental  Institute for Human Health and the Environment)
+ partner, three  Government representatives,  4 Industry
representatives (including  Mattel and PVC Steering Committee),
Mr de Rijk from TNO and a  representative form the Dutch
Consumer Organisation. 

6.  Mr. de Rijk went public on 15 June 1998 as a member of a 
scientific panel of the Weinberg Group stating that there is "no 
evidence for immediate action on phthalates in toys". The
Weinberg  Group presents itself on its website
(www.weinberggroup.com) as  engaging in "tactics to support and
promote continued use of  substances and preparations under
public, media, legislative, and/or  regulatory attack as in
existing chemicals reviews"

Greenpeace on the Internet : http://www.greenpeace.org