Phthalates in Sex Toys
From ToyboxCharley at www.MyRacyToybox.com
To set a base for such a discussion, let it be said that phthalates are to be found in thousands of the items we use from day to day, from pills to glues to paint to floor tiles to perfumes to pesticides, and on and on. Four hundred thousand tons of phthalates are produced each year.
On the surface, it will be said that their prime use is to soften plastic, often called plasticizing, and although many of these uses mentioned and unmentioned don’t seem to be related to plastic as we know it, it is not hard to get from plastic to sex toys. Although toy manufacturers do not commonly call the material of their products ‘plastic,’ that, indeed, is the generic term that can be applied.
The highest percentage of phthalates in sex toys is found in what is often called ‘jelly,’ ‘jelly-rubber,’ or sometimes just ‘rubber.’ These toys are porous, can harbor bacteria, and exude phthalates and more. They can usually be recognized by a chemical or other smell, because the good materials do not have any smell. (To be fair be careful, because the packaging itself might might have a temporary smell.)
What is our interest in Phthalates?
Since 1999 there has been concern about the possibility that exposure to phthalates could cause birth defects. It is important to note that we are all exposed to many forms of this product. As the various plastic products break down, the phthalates are released into the air. The concentration is reported to be higher and lower right where you might expect: more in rooms, then in cities, and finally less in less occupied areas. There is a study reported in 2005 that appears to show some genital development problems in boys born to the mothers who were more exposed. We can only say that the validity of that report has been challenged by a number of serious medical research groups. However, remember that if the percentage of phthalates is above a few percentage points, cleaning and disinfecting the toy becomes difficult or impossible.
So…, where does that leave us? Even though the jury is still out on the subject of risk and harm, you may decide that it simply behooves you to avoid contact with a suspect substance. You might call it an insurance policy against the possibility of problems.
OK, Where are they so that I could avoid them?
That seems to be the real question. First of all, let’s take this with a grain of salt. The last study (it was called ‘exhaustive’) came up with a negative result. If it’s that hard to determine that there is a problem, it’s certainly not a problem that is very evident. Never-the-less, this post is not intended to tell you how you should think about this subject, but rather to give you a bit more information upon which to make your decision.
Many, perhaps most, sex toys come out of the factory with absolutely no comment on the existence of phthalates. However, in some cases, especially recently, manufacturers, wanting to show their standard on the subject, will note in their description of the product that it is free of phthalates. It’s understandable that no one is announcing that their product HAS phthalates, and, although I have no reason to challenge such a statement, either positive or negative, it would take chemical analysis by gas chromatography to be sure.
What are my options?
You have several:
- Use only those that specifically say they do not have phthalates.
- Use your unsure toys with condoms
- Accept the reports that say they can find no danger
And MyRacyToybox?
At this time, if the factory has indicated in their description that the product is phthalate free, we report that in our description as well.
But having had this opportunity to consider this subject from the view of our clients, we have made the decision to put several new specifications in our ‘More Information’ product page. One of them will be a ‘Yes, No, or Don’t know’ specification with regard to phthalates. If we have such an interest for our own use, the least we can do is make the information available to the people who trust us enough to shop in our store. (This change will take around 30 days to be implemented.)
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