In Dec 2002 researchers found high levels of chemicals called phthalates in some well-known perfumes and toiletries. These chemcials, already known to contribute to male infertility and to cause genital abnormalities in mice and rats, were found in 34 products. Genital abnormailities such as undescended testicles, malformations of the urinary tract and hypospadias now occur in 4 per cent of baby boys. Prostate damage, and reduced sperm numbers and motility are on the rise amoung adult men.
A family of chemicals, produced from phthalic anhydride and alcohols, frequently used as plasticisers to give flexibility to PVC.
A group of chemicals made by the reaction of alcohols with phthalic acid. This kind of chemicals are called esters, or in this case phthalic esters or shortly phthalates. Phthalates among others can be mixed with PVC, to make it flexible. They are also used in printing inks and glues and rubber. Depending of the type of alcohol, used to make the ester, different properties are obtained for different applications. A rather high volatility is the result, if short-chained alcohols are used like in dibutylphthalate (mainly used in printing inks, but also found in the odour components of lovage and selery), while the phthalates used in PVC mainly have a low volatility. The bulk of phthalates, used in soft PVC are DEHP (di-ethylhexylphthalate) and DINP (di-isononylphthalate).
(pronounced thalates) A group of chemicals some of which are considered to be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Some phthalates are added to PVC (poly vinyl chloride) plastics to make them more soft and flexible, and also added to a wide range of cosmetics. Phthalates can leach (leak) out of the products into which they have been added, so leading to significant human exposure. f g h i j k l q r s w x y z
Plasticisers in a range of plastics, up to 50% content., pseudo-oestrogens, endocrine disruption, moderately persistent environmental poisons. Higher risk to children. Have been shown to have pseudo-eostrogenic effects in humans and other mammals. They are VOCs emitted by common materials sources such as vinyl fabric, floors, toys etc as they evaporate slowly at room temperatures. Pthalates have been linked to female breast-tissue growth in men, dropping male sperm counts and may contribute to the excess oestrogen that is suspected as having causal links to increasing breast cancer rates.
A large family of chemicals used in hundreds of different types of consumer products. In the United States, phthalates used in cosmetics (DBP, DEP) have been specifically recognized as safe by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR). Some common phthalates related to cosmetic products are: DBP - Dibutyl phthalate. DMP - Dimethyl phthalate. DEP - Diethyl phthalate. DEHP - Di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate, used only in cosmetic plastic packaging.
hazardous synthetic chemicals used to soften plastics during manufacture.
A group of SOC chemicals used in plastics manufacturing to make them flexible and pliable. One of the most widespread classes of pollutants due to their usage.
A family of chemicals, produced from phthalic anhydride and alcohols. There are two groups of phthalates – higher and lower. Lower phthalates are commonly used in personal care products, especially in nail polish, hair spray and perfumes. In perfumes, it is used as a carrier or a solvent for artificial musks. The most common types of phthalates dound in personal care prducts are Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) and Dibutyl (DBP). Higher phthalates, e.g. DEHP are used as softeners in plastics, e.g. PVC. Under EU legislation these are been banned from use in personal care products.
Salts or esters of the aromatic hydrocarbon phthalic acid. Used as softeners in plastics. Up to half the weight of PVC can sometimes consist of phthalates. It is suspected that phthalates diffusing into the environment might harm living creatures' capacity for reproduction.
A class of organic compounds containing phthalic acid esters [C6H4(COOR)2] and derivatives. Used as plasticizers in plastics. Also used in many other products (such as detergents, cosmetics) and industrial processes (such as defoaming agents during paper and paperboard manufacture, and dielectrics in capacitors).
A class of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers. They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic and they are also used in many other products (such as detergents, cosmetics) and industrial processes. Due to the pervasiveness in products, phthalates are a very widespread class of pollutants. These chemicals may have adverse effects on humans and the environment.
These are a group of chemicals added to plastics (such as PVC) as a plasticiser in order to make flexible grades. Pthalates are alleged to be hormone disruptors although this has not been conclusively proven.
Phthalates are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely used as plasticizing additives in a broad range of consumer products, including cosmetic and personal care products, PVC consumer products and construction materials. These chemicals are also used in synthetic fragrances to extend the scents’ staying power. Phthalates are relatively persistent in the environment and have been found in drinking water, soil, household dust, wildlife, fatty foods (meat and dairy products) and in the blood and breast milk of people. Scientific research has shown that phthalates disrupt hormones, and can cause birth defects of male reproductive organs.
a group of chemical compounds used to make synthetic dyes.
Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic.
