Toys used in water (bath tub or beach) like bath ducks, Inflatable beach toys and pool balls
	Some baby care items
	Dolls

In over 40 years of use in toys, there hasn't been a single known case of a child's health being harmed due to the use of PVC in soft toys. Yet, Greenpeace's claims that children could be harmed by plastic toys, has caught the attention of policy makers and the media.

The use of PVC in toys that are designed to be put into the mouth of children under three years of age, has already been banned by some countries, especially in Europe. The European Commission has taken the position to ban six types of plasticizers (softeners). The ban concerns certain components that could cause health problems if they migrate or leak from PVC toys and does not apply to PVC itself.

No convincing scientific documentation proving plasticizers are dangerous to humans exists. In fact many of the other materials used in toys, such as rubber, wood, PCV etc.contain components that can be extracted by chewing or sucking. It is important that the toxicity of any of the components used in the manufacture of toys be understood before they are used and the level of exposure be known before the suitability of the materials is assesed.

PVCs popularity in toys is because of the advantages it offers on material, cost and safety. Both factors are very important for toy manufacturers to produce affordable toys, especially according to fast changing popular themes.

Material Advantages

	PVC is durable and can be used for long-lasting toys.
	PVC is versatile. It can be used for both flexible and rigid toys, with kaleidoscopic colors and can be formulated to get the exact performance and quality requirements.

Costs advantages

	PVC toys can be mass-produced.
	PVC toys allow design flexibility.

PVC Toys Are Safe

	PVC meets all international standards for safety and health.
	It has been used for more than 40 years and is the world's most researched and thoroughly tested plastic.
	Studies have shown that there is no health risk to children playing with PVC toys.
	At the end of its useful life, it can be recycled. Lifecycle analysis has shown that PVC is a very competitive and environmentally acceptable material.

Alternatives To PVC In Toys

Based on the scientific study and the advantages PVC offers in toys, there are no substantial reasons to replace PVC. All substitutes without proven technical and safety, would require additional research, that usually leads to higher cost.

Plasticizers

What are plasticizers?

A plasticizer is a substance which when added to a material, usually a plastic, makes it flexible, resilient and easier to handle. Modern plasticizers are synthetic organic chemicals; esters, such as adipates and phthalates. More importantly, they are not just additives (like pigments or fillers), they are major components that determine the physical properties of polymer products.
Plasticizers are also used in rubber products, paints, printing inks, adhesives, lubricants and some cosmetics. However, the majority of plasticizers are used in the production of flexible PVC.
Plasticizers include primary plasticizers and secondary plasticizers. Secondary plasticizers, also known as extenders, do not impart flexibility to the PVC resin alone and are combined with a primary plasticizer.

Primary Plasticizers

Usually plasticizers mainly refer to primary ones. They include:

	Adipates: for low temperature applications, cost higher .
	Phosphates: low volatility, but mainly for fire retardant purpose because of cost concerns
	Phthalates: currently the most commonly used plasticizers
	Trimellitates: usually for high temperature applications like cables and wires
	Sebacates and Azelates: limited to superior low temperature applications
	Citrates: medical equipment and packaging film

Ban of phthalates

Phthalates

The most commonly used plasticizers are phthalates. They are colorless, odorless liquids and their principle use is to soften the popular plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Plasticized PVC is used in a wide range of applications such as medical tubing and bloodbags, footwear, stationery goods, flooring and wall-coverings, electrical cable insulation, clothing and toys.

Resulting from the issue of phthalate plasticizers, many countries in Europe have imposed bans on phthalates to different degrees. Some countries have simply banned PVC toys designed to be put into the mouth of children under three years of age. Many others have cautiously limited the amount of phthalates to 0.05% (500ppm) of individual or total six phthalates, DINP, DNOP, DEHP(or DOP), DIDP, BBP and DBP). EU risks assessments are expected to be available in early 2001.
In the USA, according to ASTM F963, pacifiers, rattles and teethers that contain more than 3% DEHP are banned.

Alternatives

As public debate continues, toy manufacturers are trying hard to find alternative plasticizers to phthalates, rather than give up using PVC in toys. This is because of the irreplaceable benefits PVC offers in toy applications. Currently the most commonly used alternatives to these six phthalates are:

	Benzoates
	Citrates
	DINA
	EPZ (Edible Plasticizer)
	TXIB Plasticizer (commonly called hard oil)
	168 Plasticizer