Summary & conclusions

Easy-to-print version of this report (26 sec @ 28k)xxx

**July, 2002: Recent questions from our email inbox
Also - we get mail from a vinyl industry spokesperson.

Lead in PVC
(What is vinyl plastic?)

Phthalate Plasticizers
November 1999:
A discussion of the Koop Report Declaring PVC and phthalates to be safe

Other hazards

References

Authorship of this material

Toys made with PVC 

Links to documents:
Additional topics & reports on this website

Jan. '99:
Lead, Cadmium, Phthalates still found in Children's Products

CONTACT US
we welcome comments and questions

A note to the reader:   You probably came here because you have heard or read about the dangers of PVC toys.  Our  purpose on these pages is to supply thoroughly researched background material, so that you will come away with a real understanding of the issue, and will be able to make your own decisions based on that understanding.   We strongly suggest you take the time to  read through at least the next page in sequence ( Summary) before following any links to other pages or references.    We think you will gain the best overview of the subject in the shortest time, and you will probably find most of your basic questions answered in this way.   You can't do this in two or three minutes!  If you are in a hurry. we suggest you print this article ( Click for printer-friendly version) and return to this website for additional information, links, and references when you have time.

Organization of the material:  We first present a summary of what we have learned about Polyvinyl Chloride, and the conclusions we draw.  We then offer practical recommendations.  Questions such as "Why?" or "How do you know that?" may then be answered by reading the following sections of detailed information.  For more perspective, including other views of the topic, follow appropriate links to references  at the end of this article.
We cover the hazards of PVC in three sections:  
* Metal stabilizers of PVC, emphasizing Lead stabilizers and lead toxicology;  
*Plasticizers, primarily Phthalates;
* Other hazards, including Vinyl Chloride Monomer, and the results of uncontrolled (i.e., backyard and accidental) burning of PVC wastes.  
General environmental problems, including Dioxins, are beyond the scope of this presentation.

Sources & references: News releases from the Arizona and North Carolina Departments of Health;  The analysis of Lead in toys published by Greenpeace ; Documents from the US CPSC, Environ Corporation, Health Canada, and Dutch National Institute of Public Health;    Graduate level texts on the chemical engineering of Polymers, specifically PVC; journal articles in the medical literature on the topics of Lead and Phthalate toxicity; various papers commissioned by the plastics industry evaluating the environmental problems of PVC. 

top of page

NEXT PAGE >>>

Chlorine Industry response to evaluations of Phthalate toxicity

TOXICOLOGY, PREVALANCE, AND POLITICS OF PHTHALATES

top of page

NEXT PAGE >>>