GREENPEACE REVEALED TODAY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS FOUND IN PVC BABY TOYS

London/ New York, 17 September 1997

At press conferences in New York and London, Greenpeace revealed today that it found significant levels of hazardous chemicals in soft PVC toys. The organisation warned parents and consumers of the potential hazards of these chemicals and urged them to avoid buying PVC toys. A list of soft PVC and non-PVC toys was released at the press conferences, in order to help consumers and parents make informed choices when buying toys for Christmas. (1)

PVC plastic uses more additives than any other plastic and softeners are needed to make PVC toys flexible. Of the 63 PVC toys tested by Greenpeace, almost all contained substantial quantities of hazardous softening additives, most frequently between 10 and 40% of their weight. These chemicals, called phthalates, are known to leak from PVC products during use, especially when pressure is applied, such as a small child sucking or chewing on a toy.

"The softeners contained in PVC toys are not totally bound to the plastic. They are freely mobile, rather like water in a sponge. When children suck and chew on soft PVC toys, these hazardous chemicals may therefore come out of the toys," said Dr David Santillo, of Exeter University in the UK, and staff scientist for Greenpeace International. "In this way, the toy industry is unnecessarily exposing small children to hazardous chemicals at one of the most vulnerable periods of their development."

In independent laboratory studies (2), the dominant phthalate found in the tested toys has been shown to be toxic when ingested by animals. The health effects range from liver and kidney damage to reproductive abnormalities. A recent study (3) also indicates that the most abundant phthalate found in Greenpeace tests shows some capacity to weakly mimic the hormone estrogen. The hormon system is an extremely sensitive chemical messenger system which regulates many aspects of development and metabolism.

Analyses conducted last April and July by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands have shown that soft PVC toys can leak phthalates, in some cases giving estimated doses above limits set by the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Commission. Both governments are now taking action to reduce the risk to children (4). This concern has spurred action in several countries. Under pressure, the Italian company Chicco voluntarily withdrew three teething rings from the market in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece and Argentina. In addition several retailers - KF, Blokker, Prenatal among others - removed soft PVC toys from the shelves in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Greenpeace first alerted the toy industry to the issue in August 1996 and met with its trade association, the International Council of Toy Industries. After two meetings, negotiations broke down, and so Greenpeace has decided to warn the public of the potential hazards of these toys.

"Ingesting these chemicals represents a completely unnecessary and avoidable risk. Toy manufacturers and governments have been slow to investigate the risk and deal with it. But parents and consumers can act now and "play safe" by avoiding PVC toys," said Lisa Finaldi of Greenpeace.

The entire life-cycle of PVC plastic is a polluting process. Its production involves highly toxic additives and generates hazardous chlorinated emissions and wastes. When burned in accidental fires or incinerators, PVC products are a significant source of dioxins. In 1993 Greenpeace won a decision at the Austrian Supreme Court to label PVC 'an environmental poison.' end

(1) PVC plastic toys are difficult to identify. Some are marked "vinyl" or have "V" or a "3" embossed in the plastic.

(2) * Aristech (1995)Aristech Chemical Corporation Material Safety Data sheet C1084E. Product code 1564: Diisononyl phthalate. *European Chemicals Bureau (1996) IUCLID: International Uniform Chemical Information Database. Existing Chemicals - 1996. Edition 1. * Kemi (1994) Phthalic acid esters used as plastic additives. Publ: Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate; report 12/94, ISSN 0248 - 1185 * USEPA (1991) Subchronic (4-week) dietary oral toxicity study with di(isononyl) phthalate in B6C3F1 mice (final report) with cover sheet dated 05.29.91. Hazelton Laboratories, Washington. EPA/OTS Doc #86-910000793 * USEPA (1992) 13-week subchronic dietary oral toxicity study with di(isononyl) phthalate in mice, with cover letter dated 07.06.92 and attachments: supplement. American College of Veterinary Pathology. EPA / OTS Doc #89-920000303.

(3) *Harris, C.A., Henttu, P., Parker M. G. & Sumpter J. P. (1997) The estrogenic activity of phthalate esters in vitro, Environmental Health Perspectives 105(8).

(4) - On 18-April-1997 , the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended that "three teething rings be withdrawn from the Danish market" after Denmark's Environmental Investigations found that these PVC teething rings "liberated an extent of phthalates which the EPA regards as unacceptable for babies". - On 16-July-1997, after testing teethers, rattles and toy figurines sold for babies, the Netherlands Ministry of Health urged toy importers and distributors to not market soft PVC toys for babies.