What does phthalate mean?
As "phthalate" designated products plastic free and of pure phthalate material.
Softeners are added to a variety of materials in order to make them soft. The chemicals come as between, or even into the material molecules to increase their mobility. The material becomes elastic. In addition to this primary function, the use of features such as light, water and temperature resistance, odour and colourless and fire resistance are to be generated. Plasticizers are used in countless products - from children's toys to wallpaper and flooring to packaging materials for various products. Health hazards should theoretically be taken into account in plasticizers - but in reality, phthalates may be harmful.
Phthalates
The chemical industry is constantly developing a new plasticizer - particularly often is the substance group of phthalates, thus the Esther of phthalic acid is used.
The substance group of phthalates include:
- Diisodecyl (DIDP)
- Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
- Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
- Di (2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP)
Quick and inexpensive to manufacture, they can be particularly versatile. The environmental organisation Greenpeace denounced more than a decade ago the overwhelming market volume of phthalates within the EU, the above 1 million tonnes is still continuously used.
Health hazards
DEHP is still used, even though chemical toxics in reproduction properties were detected. Less toxic are DINP and DIDP. Accordingly, they increase their market shares. Nonetheless, they are regarded as so-called endocrine disruptors which impair fertility in man and affect the healthy hormonal control functions of the pituitary gland and thyroid gland. Other phthalates act as hepatotoxic.
EU limits the harmful effects of this chemical. However when you only look at individual substances, the harmful effects of the products can add up phthalating within. Chemically, phthalates are not related. Therefore, they can, for example, absorb soft PVC packaging in food or evaporate from various products. Phthalates are released in house dust, floor coverings and wallpaper.
Risks
Phthalates are constantly taken orally, which manifest health risks, particularly in children. Located lesions add to the phthalate exposure from food packaging and household dust from plasticized toys - kids may put many of these toys in their mouth.
In order to limit the risks mentioned above, certain phthalates have been banned in various consumer products. These now include all baby articles including children's toys, as well as cosmetics, adhesives and paints.
For plastic packaging, modified limits apply. Toxicologically, less critical phthalates like DINP and DIDP are tolerated, because they can be ingested daily over a lifetime and are harmless as confirmed by experts. The same applies to plasticizers from other classes such as Citrate, adipic acid, epoxidized soybean oils or adipates.
Precautions
Phthalates are everywhere, even in most foods. Therefore, consumers should change their eating habits by turning to high-quality fresh and seasonal products, and even freshly prepared meals. House dust can be minimised through thorough cleaning. Children should never put anything in their mouth. Old toys should be screened. Even a new no-name children's toy can be loaded with all applicable prohibitions. New ways to use phthalate-free products should always be used.
Phthalate oilcloth can be found at jubelis® in a variety of colour and pattern selection. These table coverings are manufactured in Germany.