Canada, US and EU have all now banned six phthalates in children's products in toys

Phthalates are a group of chemicals found in a wide range of consumer products including vinyl shower curtains, paint, pesticides, hospital supplies, many different kinds of cosmetics and other personal care products as well as in automobile interiors. Like many contaminants in consumer products, phthalates have surprised us and their toxicity is still not fully understood. Animal tests reveal a wide range of damaging effects to the developing reproductive system, particularly in male animals, with lifelong effects.

 

Publications, Websites, Fact Sheets

The following resources include detailed and summary reports, books, websites, literature reviews and fact sheets about phthalates prepared by physicians, public interest groups, government agencies and researchers, primarily in the United States.

March 2010
Fact Sheet
September 18, 2008
Brochure
September 2008
Fact Sheet
June 2008
Executive Summary, Report
June 2008
Fact Sheet
2008
Web page, Video
February 13, 2008
Response to Consultation, Report

Media Releases

Mar 30, 2011

Groundbreaking human study finds removing certain food packaging from diet reduces BPA levels by 60 percent

Jan 18, 2011

Scientific Evidence Points to Need for Regulation of Additional Phthalate Sources

May 19, 2010

Review by Erica Phipps published in Children, Youth and Environments Vol. 20 No. 1 (Spring 2010)

ISSN: 1546-2250 Slow Death by Rubber Duck Smith, Rick and Lourie, Bruce (2009). Canada: Alfred A. Knopf Canada; 323 pages. $32.00 (CAN). ISBN 9780307397126.

Jun 12, 2008
New report shows as many as 100 chemicals released from PVC shower curtains
Joint Media Release from CELA and Environmental Defence
Oct 15, 2007
News Release from Environment California
Sep 06, 2007

Advice to Parents prepared by the Canadian Environmental Law Association