Pthalates

Contributor: HannahPanda HannahPanda
My partner just bought me a great vibrator but some of the reviews talk about pthalates in the material and how they could be harmful. I have another vibrator with them in it as well, and I heard that toys that have a stench to them are because of pthalates and that I should be weary about using toys with them in it. Does anyone know about this who is able to fill me in on why I might want to steer clear of them?
12/13/2011
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Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Pthalate esters (pthalates) are used as plasticizers to add flexibility, transparency and softness to plastics (pthalate-free products use a different plasticizer). The problem is that pthalates can leach out of the product because they do not "bond" to the plastics in which they are mixed. I won't go into detail, but pthalates have been implicated in exacerbating many health problems (among them breast cancer, skin and mucosal allergies).

Let me know if you need more information.
12/13/2011
Contributor: HannahPanda HannahPanda
Quote:
Originally posted by Ghost
Pthalate esters (pthalates) are used as plasticizers to add flexibility, transparency and softness to plastics (pthalate-free products use a different plasticizer). The problem is that pthalates can leach out of the product because they do not ... more
I'd love to hear more about that. Does it leach into your body during use, and is a toy worth paying more for if it's free of them?
12/14/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Quote:
Originally posted by HannahPanda
I'd love to hear more about that. Does it leach into your body during use, and is a toy worth paying more for if it's free of them?
Pthalates can be absorbed dermally, so direct contact with the toy means exposure. Other modes of exposure are breathing them in or eating food that has been contaminated (from packaging or from air deposition). Personally, I always buy pthalate-free toys and I recommend other people do the same. On the other hand, we are constantly bombarded with pthalates from other plastic products (including medical devices). Still, why increase your exposure if you don't have to?

People are trying to get the FDA to impose stricter regulations on the use of pthalates in consumer products due to the research indicating that long term exposure is harmful. Unfortunately, the government tends to make any product available that does not show -immediate- health risks, and so we get what's called "bioaccumulation" of many toxins from consumer goods and medications and the health problems don't show up until later.
12/14/2011
Contributor: levellc09 levellc09
When I was younger a friend got me a pink jelly dong. I didn't see the VERY small writing that said "not for actual use". It burned so bad. Anything that burns me probably can cuase more harm. I wouldn't take the rest. All my toys are pure silicone, steel/glass or pthalate free plastic.
12/14/2011
Contributor: TitsMcScandal TitsMcScandal
I refuse to buy any toys that are not of body safe material. I'm very conscious of what I put inside of me. I love my vagina and want to take care of it to the best of my ability.

Here is a guide that EF wrote on pthalates: link
12/14/2011
Contributor: Rin (aka Nire) Rin (aka Nire)
Quote:
Originally posted by levellc09
When I was younger a friend got me a pink jelly dong. I didn't see the VERY small writing that said "not for actual use". It burned so bad. Anything that burns me probably can cuase more harm. I wouldn't take the rest. All my toys ... more
Funny thing is, you can often find disclaimers like that even on high-quality toys. It's largely meant to skirt around laws prohibiting the sale of sex toys in some areas, but it also absolves any less scrupulous companies from taking responsibility if someone gets a reaction from a toy. It's a strange practice.
12/14/2011