PATIENTS EXPOSED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS FROM PVC MEDICAL PRODUCTS

20 October 1999

Amsterdam -- Laboratory test results released by Greenpeace today showed the presence of a toxic additive in medical devices made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) plastic. The same toxic additive was banned in soft PVC toys last year by nine countries due to concerns about its release and ingestion.

Additives leak from PVC products during normal use, exposing hospital patients. Independent laboratory testing of 46 products, such as intravenous (IV) bags, syringes, tubing and catheters, revealed levels of 12% - 80% by weight of the toxic additive known as DEHP. Products from Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, the UK and the US were tested. Of these, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece and the US have restricted similar levels of DEHP in PVC toys.

"Lessons learned on additives in soft PVC toys need to be applied to medical devices," said Joe Di Gangi, Ph.D., author of the Greenpeace report. "Why expose a vulnerable population such as patients to toxic chemicals, when alternatives are readily available?"

Medical products manufacturers readily admit that DEHP is required to make PVC flexible, and that it is released into intravenous solutions, blood, and even the air used in infant respiratory therapy. The World Health Organisation believes there is a need to "reduce exposure arising from the use of plastic tubes containing DEHP in such clinical procedures as transfusion, haemodialysis, and artificial respiration". The US considers DEHP to be a probable human carcinogen and the European Union (EU) considers the relevant human effect to be testicular damage.

The medical product testing revealed many items that were not made of PVC – these did not contain DEHP. Manufacturers of non-PVC medical products include B. Braun, Fresenius and Pharmacia. Baxter Healthcare recently committed to "exploring and developing alternatives to PVC products" in their worldwide product line. In contrast, US-based Abbott Laboratories rejected a PVC substitution policy, and apparently is not a contender in the non-PVC market.

"Fortunately, the presence of government-approved alternative materials makes DEHP exposure unnecessary," said Axel Singhofen of Greenpeace's EU office in Brussels. "The prescription is simple," he added, "hospitals should switch to non-PVC products."

Greenpeace is one of more than 190 member organizations of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), an international coalition of hospitals, health professional organizations, health advocacy groups, labor, religious organizations, and environmental groups. HCWH's mission is to transform the health care industry so that it is no longer a source of environmental harm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Lisa Finaldi, Director of Greenpeace USA Toxics Campaign +1 919 828 5202
- Joe Di Gangi, Ph.D., Issue Specialists +1 312 554 1029 (US)
- Andrew Davies, Press Office +31 20 524 9545 (Amsterdam)

A copy of the Greenpeace report is available at www.greenpeace.org/~toxics/medprods.pdf
More information is available at the HCWH website at www.noharm.org