There have been a number of news items recently about "toxic sex toys," specifically related to the use of phthalates in sex toys. Unfortunately, headlines about killer sex toys often fail to give us the information we actually need to make decisions about whether or not we should use sex toys that contain phthalates in them. Here is some basic information about phthalates and their use in sex toy manufacturing.
What are phthalates?
Phthalates -- pronounded "thal-ates" -- are a family of chemicals used to soften hard plastics to make them more flexible. Derived from phthalic acid, and often called a plasticizer for its plastic-softening properties, phthalates have been produced since the 1920s and have been used in everything from perfumes to pesticides and medical instruments to sex toys.
Why are phthalates used to manufacture sex toys?
Phthalates soften the rubbers and make sex toys have a soft cushy feel to them. They are used in a wide range of sex toys, but there are many other toys that are phthalate-free.
Is there a health risk?
There is simply not enough data to answer this question directly because few studies exist using sex toys. But the information regarding safety of phthalates in general is instructive.
A variety of individuals and research institutions have weighed in and expressed concern ranging from mild to serious. There is a growing body of research that suggests phthalates have a toxic effect, particularly on the male reproductive system. Most organizations (with the notable exception of the chemical industry) agree that phthalates pose some risk to health and reproduction, both directly and indirectly through the impact on the environment.
BUY Roscal Toys WHOLESALE
Studies on rodents have revealed that when exposed to very large doses, phthalates can cause damage to the liver, lungs, kidneys, testes and can cause hormonal disruption. Preliminary studies on humans (where they have measured phthalate levels in the body and compared them to other health markers) have suggested a relationship between phthalates and poor semen quality and a relationship between phthalates and genital development.
In 2002, the FDA issued a warning that infant males who were ill and undergoing treatment, as well as other "vulnerable patients," could be harmed by phthalate exposure from vinyl medical devices.
| pure-romance contact details |
pipedream products contact details |
kink-lab contact details |
lov rub contact details |
phallix contact details |
Manzzz contact details |
earthlybody contact details |
| bms-enterprises contact details |
txt sex toys contact details |
Lady-Calston contact details |
Doc-Johnson contact details |
id-lubricants contact details |
spartacus contact details |
ElectraStim contact details |
| surrogate-cocks contact details |
fleshlight contact details |
lelo contact details |
sin-five contact details |
tantus contact details |
Miss-Minky contact details |
loverschoice contact details |
| vicon inc contact details |
ledapod contact details |
nasstaoys contact details |
nexus contact details |
durex-condoms |
empire-labs contact details |
Kiss-Me-Deadly contact details |
| irex industry contact details |
levene-sexyproducts contact details |
passion contact details |
viamax contact details |
vibratex contact details |
Radical-Vinyl contact details |
Male-Power contact details |
| orion company contact details |
Shenzhen Rhy contact details |
tenga contact details |
glow-industries contact details |
screaming-o contact details |
Njoy-sextoys contact details |
Utensil-Race contact details |
| 1on1-wholesale contact details |
ledapol contact details |
Topco-Sales contact details |
love-honey contact details |
big-teaze contact details |
Feelztoys contact details |
Sweet-Streak contact details |
| rock-off contact details |
b-linktoys contact details |
Toy-Joy contact details |
jelique products inc contact details |
rimba contact details |
Emotional-Bliss contact details |
Julian-Snelling contact details |
| ann-summers contact details |
bestgreen-shenzhen contact details |
fetish-factory contact details |
electric-lingerie contact details |
mantric-sextoys contact details |
lovemoiselle contact details |
bathmate contact details |
| Empowered-Products contact details |
kama-sutra contact details |
california-fantasies contact details |
fun-factory contact details |
dr joel kaplan contact details |
trojan-condoms contact details |
cock-locker contact details |
| o-my-products contact details |
MD-Science-Lab contact details |
hustler lingerie contact details |
Astroglide contact details |
BASIC-SexToys contact details |
Anna-Span contact details |
evolved-sextoys contact details |
| Booty-Parlor contact details |
Coquette-lingerie contact details |
condomi contact details |
eroscillator contact details |
g-world-lingerie contact details |
vibe-Therapy |
Forplay-sexylingerie contact details |
| Penthouse contact details |
SexInTheShower contact details |
Shaun-Sloane contact details |
what-Katie-did contact details |
adam-eve contact details |
VixSkin contact details |
Sliquid contact details |
| Fusion-Condoms contact details |
traceycox-sextoys contact details |
Don-Wands contact details |
Luxotiq contact details |
Je-Joue contact details |
SENSUAL-MYSTIQUE contact details |
mates-condoms contact details |
| Lifestyles-condoms contact details |
Pasante contact details |
vigrx contact details |
Rascal-Toys contact details |
Leg-Avenue conatct details |
spareparts hardwear contact details |
wet contact details |
| touche contact details |
she-stim contact details |
classic-erotica contact details |
OhMiBod contact details |
benwa contact details |
boston pump contact details |
X-tassie contact details |
| EROS-UK contact details |
dooz 14000 contact details |
doozforte contact details |
invermalargo contact details |
cantharisdrops contact details |
SPANISHFLYLIQUID contact details |
invermapharma contact details |
| milanpharma contact details |
remanenterprises contact details |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2006, the National Toxicology Program reviewed the science and concluded that:
"There is serious concern that certain intensive medical treatments of male infants may result in DEHP exposures levels that affect development of the male reproductive tract."
"There is concern for adverse effects on development of the reproductive tract in male offspring of pregnant and breastfeeding women undergoing certain medical procedures that may result in exposure to high levels of DEHP."
Phthalate molecules are not chemically bound to the plastics they soften, and as such, phthalates can "break free" from plastic fairly easily, causing rubber and jelly toys to deteriorate over time. Some studies have reported that phthalates may mimic the female hormone estrogen.
Most recently, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency released a report on the safety of phthalates in sex toys. According to the report, titled Survey and Health Assessment of Chemical Substances in Sex Toys, using sex toys with phthalates for one hour a day or less poses no health risks unless you are pregnant or nursing.
At the same time, there is a move on the part of healthcare leaders in the U.S. and Europe to prefer products that don't contain phthalates in the interest of both patient and practitioner safety.
Given all this, it seems reasonable to say that it would be better if nothing were made with phthalates. If you are able to afford sex toys that are phthalate-free, I would certainly recommend them over toys that contain phthalates.
Why do they use phthalates in sex toys if they are harmful?
There are always research studies that offer different opinions, and other studies have shown that neonatal phthalate exposure has had little effect on children, and the phthalate industry asserts that the level of phthalate exposure utilized in experiments with rodents was so much higher than the level of phthalate exposure incurred by actual people that the results were skewed.
But the main reason sex toy manufacturers likely use phthalates is that it is inexpensive, and it is the way they’ve always done it. Unfortunately, the industry is rarely proactive about the health of their customers and instead responds only when there is strong pressure to do so.
The industry magazine Adult Novelty Business wrote a good profile about phthalates in sex toys, which included quotes from several manufacturers who have said they will move to eliminate phthalates from their products.
Who do I believe?
This is an impossible question to answer. You need to assess the risk for yourself. The sources at the end of this article will direct you to information on both sides of this issue. If you have any concerns you can use condoms on your toys, or you can choose purchase toys that are phthalate free, which are often better quality.
If you shop at a reputable sex toy store, ask them which sex toys are phthalate-free.
As a general rule, the more that a toy smells like rubber, the more phthalates it contains. One researcher I spoke with referred to this as the “plastic shower curtain” test. If you take a toy out of the package and it has a strong "chemically smell," like a new shower curtain, it probably has phthalates in it. Sex toys made of the following materials do not contain phthalates:
Silicone rubber
Hard plastic/Acrylic sex toys
Glass sex toys
Metal sex toys
Elastomers sex toys
Learn more about phthalates in sex toys:
Greenpeace UK Statement on Phthalates in Sex Toys
Brief on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) National Toxicology Program, Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, May, 2006.
Aggregate Exposure to Phthalates in Humans, Health Care Without Harm, July 2002.
U.S. FDA Phthalates and Cosmetic Products Information Sheet , Updated February 7, 2008.
'Gender-bending' Chemicals Found to 'Feminise' Boys, New Scientist, May 2005.
Phthalate Info Sheet from Introduction to Hormone Disrupting Chemicals, Dr A. Michael Warhurst.
Why Health Care is Moving Away from the Hazardous Plastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
The turn off is understandable. Sex toys, while a lot of fun are by no means necessary to having a good (or great) sex life. But if you like them, hopefully the turn off will pass, and maybe some information on what we know, and don't know, about the safety of sex toys will help.
Unfortunately there is very little scientific data on the safety of sex toys, and I have come across websites that, in my opinion, make too many generalizations about the potential danger of sex toys (sometimes for reasons that seem a little self-serving). For example, there is simply no data that can confirm that “most sex toys have cancer-causing ingredients”. Also, it is untrue to say that silicone is the only material that is “safe” to use. It’s possible that ten years from now we’ll discover something in the manufacturing of silicone that poses a health risk. Scientists are constantly learning more about how the chemicals we come in contact with impact our health and the best we can do is keep up to date on what the research can tell us. The bad news is that scientists often leave sex out of their research, with the obvious exception of sexually transmitted disease research. As such finding information on the safety of sex toys can be difficult. Here are a few things to consider…
Kaida Packaging Co., Ltd
Kaida Packaging Co., Ltd Bottles China
Kaida Packaging Co Ltd
Kaida Packaging Co. Ltd Scam company
Fraud Kaida Packaging Co., Ltd
The vast majority of sex toy manufacturers do not disclose what they put in their toys. This “mystery material” may pose health risks, but we have no way of knowing for sure. Sex toys are not approved, tested, or regulated by the FDA. They are sold as novelty items, not medical devices.
We do know that many soft rubber toys are made using phthalates , which have been linked to several environmental and individual health issues, in a variety of other consumer products. The most common sex toys that are made with phthalates are called jelly rubber but many other kinds of soft rubber toys also contain phthalates.
We also know that manufacturers often add an artificial scent (to mask the smell of phthalate off gassing), and these scents, along with the dyes they use, and the material itself, could be something people have allergic reactions to.
So where does that leave us? As with any other safer sex issue the important thing is for you to understand and assess their own risk , which you can only do by getting as much information as you can, and making a thoughtful decision, preferably not in the heat of the moment.
There is no doubt that higher quality, hypoallergenic, materials, such as silicone, and elastomers, are the better choice. But they are expensive and out of reach for many of us. Using a latex condom on an inexpensive toy will reduce the risk of reacting to it, but may not eliminate risk entirely.
