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

22 September 1998

Brussels -- 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 toys, 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 children's 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).

Representatives from the chemical and toys industry, who have responsibility for key parts of the test, dominate the 'Dutch Technical Consensus Committee' (5) which conducted the study. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

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

Visit Greenpeace International's PVC Toys website:
http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/pvctoys/index.html

(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 from 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 http://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".