Plasticizer is also called plasticizer. Its chemical name is phthalates. It is a group of compounds, mainly used for PVC materials. It makes PVC change from hard plastic to elastic plastic, and plays the role of plasticizer (the substance added to plastics to increase the elasticity of plastics). It is widely used in toys, food packaging materials, medical blood bags and hose, vinyl floor and wallpaper, cleaners, lubricants, personal care products, such as nail polish, hair spray, soap and shampoo and hundreds of other products. The most common variety is DEHP (commonly known as DOP in industry). DEHP chemical is called di (2-ethyl) hexyl phthalate, which is a colorless and tasteless liquid. This time, Taiwan's manufacturers used DEHP, a common industrial plasticizer, instead of palm oil as a clouding agent for food filling agent, which is also another counterexample for unscrupulous businessmen.

Hazards of phthalates phthalate

According to the latest research from Germany, many cosmetics, toys and food packaging contain a harmful chemical phalate. Studies have shown that the global decrease in the number of male sperm in the past few decades may be related to phthalate, a chemical widely used as a softener in the light industry. This substance widely exists in cosmetics, children's toys and food packaging. If its content exceeds the standard, it will cause great harm to human health. Studies have shown that phthalates play a role similar to estrogen in human body and animals, which can interfere with endocrine, reduce the amount of semen and sperm, lower sperm motility, abnormal sperm morphology, and seriously lead to testicular cancer, which is the "culprit" of male reproductive problems. In cosmetics, nail polish has the highest content of o-benzoic acid two, which is also found in many cosmetics. This substance in cosmetics will enter the body through the respiratory system and skin of women. If it is used too much, it will increase the risk of breast cancer for women, and it will also harm the reproductive system of their future baby boys.

What materials do phthalates often exist in?

Phthalates are a kind of chemicals that can play a softening role. It is widely used in toys, food packaging materials, medical blood bags and hose, vinyl floor and wallpaper, cleaners, lubricants, personal care products, such as nail polish, hair spray, soap and shampoo and hundreds of other products.

Phthalate content restriction directive in toys

With people's understanding of phalates, phthalates in children's products are paid more and more attention. In 1999, the European union formally decided to impose strict restrictions on the content of phthalates in toys (such as baby nipples) and other children's articles used by children under the age of 3 years and in contact with their mouths. Experts found that soft plastic toys and children's articles containing phthalates may be put into the import by children. If they are placed for a long time, the amount of phthalates dissolved will exceed the safety level, which will harm children's liver and kidney, and also cause early puberty.

EU directive 2005 / 84 / EC on the restriction of phthalate content in toys and children's care products came into force on January 16, 2007. All EU member states have transformed the directive into their own laws before July 16, 2007, and started to implement their respective relevant laws on January 16, 2008.

According to the directive, children's care products refer to any products that help children sleep, relax, keep healthy, and feed or let children suck, including all kinds of shapes and types of nipples.

Restrictions on phthalates by directive 2005 / 84 / EC:

● the concentration of 3 kinds of phthalates (DEHP, DBP and BBP) contained in the plastic of toys or children's care products shall not exceed 0.1%.

● toys and children's care products with concentration of DEHP, DBP and BBP exceeding 0.1% shall not be sold in EU market.

● children can put imported toys and children's care articles. The concentration of 3 kinds of phthalates (DINP, DIDP and DnOP) contained in the plastic shall not exceed 0.1%.

● toys and children's care products with DINP, DIDP and DnOP concentration exceeding 0.1% shall not be sold in the EU market.

● it is clear that restrictions on DEHP, DBP and BBP content will affect all toys and child care products, not just those that children can import, because the official risk assessment evaluates these three substances as (reproductive poison II). On the other hand, the Directive states that the scientific evidence on DINP, DIDP and DnOP is insufficient or controversial. Therefore, the EU adopts the precautionary principle, i.e. taking measures according to the possible risks rather than the actual risks to limit the role of DINP, DIDP and DnOP, but the restrictions are relatively loose.

18 harmful substances in the latest phthalates: