Phthalates Information Center -- Media Center -- 2002 PEP Statements

American Chemistry Council Has Mixed Response To Washington State's New Law Regulating Certain Chemicals In Children's Products

4/3/2008

While Governor Christine Gregoire showed thoughtfulness in her decision to veto two sections of a bill which bans the sale or distribution of children's products or components of children's products containing lead, cadmium and phthalates, she missed an opportunity to show leadership by disallowing a ban on phthalates, plasticizers that have been in use for over fifty years without any reliable evidence of human health effects.

Sharon Kneiss, Vice President of Products Divisions at ACC, issued the following statement:

"Though we are encouraged by the Governor's decision to remove parts of the legislation that could adversely affect the availability of safe toys in Washington State, ACC believes that banning chemicals such as phthalates - ingredients commonly used as softeners in vinyl products - is unnecessary to protect children's health. Phthalates have been an important part of our every day life for over two generations. In that time, we have seen significant improvements in children's health. In fact, there is no reliable scientific evidence that phthalates have ever caused any harm to any human being. There is simply no scientific basis for removing phthalates from the marketplace.

"In her signing statement, Governor Gregoire expressed concerns about portions of the bill that could result in the removal of safe children's products from the marketplace. We agree with the Governor that ‘good science' should be taken into consideration and safety testing conducted in the past should be looked into when the effects of chemicals on children's health are examined. Phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied products in the world. They have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's review of the safety of phthalates in vinyl toys included the unequivocal statement that there is ‘no demonstrated health risk' to children.

"The Governor also vetoed a section of the law that would have required the Department of Ecology to adopt a rule that would identify ‘chemicals of high concern for children by January 1, 2010.' In addition to legitimate concerns regarding the protection of proprietary information, the Governor rightly points out that the ‘language in this section could result in a long list of chemicals' and onerous reporting requirements. It is our belief that this reporting regimen would pose an undue burden on manufacturers and state agencies while providing no real benefit to public health and safety.

"We are encouraged by the Governor's commitment to appoint an advisory group to work with the Departments of Health and Ecology. It is our hope that representatives from the manufacturing side of the toy industry – as well as experts from the chemical industry – will be appointed to this advisory group.

"In light of the potential adverse consequences that could result from Washington State Legislature's rush to pass this law, ACC encourages other state legislators who are contemplating similar legislation to focus on the available science. Our elected leaders should avoid making laws based on politics rather than sound science."

"Responsible Care® helps America's leading chemical companies go above and beyond government requirements and openly communicate their results to the public. The U.S. chemistry industry continues to invest heavily in the application of improved technologies to ensure the safe production and use of essential chemical products. Today, people are living longer, safer and healthier lives through the essential benefits provided by the business of chemistry."

www.americanchemistry.com/newsroom

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $635 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

ACC Expresses Disappointment Over Passage of Washington State Law Banning Phthalates in Children's Products

3/13/2008

The American Chemistry Council today expressed disappointment over the inclusion of vinyl softeners – known as phthalates – in legislation passed by both houses of the Washington State Legislature banning the sale or distribution of children's products or components of children's products containing phthalates. If signed by the governor, the legislation would become effective July 1, 2009. ACC believes that banning phthalates from children's products is unnecessary to protect children's health. ACC Vice President of Products Divisions, Sharon Kneiss, issued the following statement:

"We all share a mutual interest in the need to protect the health of children, and ACC believes that banning phthalates from children's products will not achieve this objective. There is no reliable evidence that phthalates have ever caused any harm to any human in more than fifty years of use. Phthalates are an important part of our every day life. It is not practical or advisable to regulate phthalates at the state or local level. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has already determined that vinyl products containing phthalates designed for use by children have no demonstrated health risk. Our children's health and safety is too important to rush through product bans without understanding their full consequences - including unintended and possibly detrimental effects."

"The Washington State legislation incorrectly states that phthalates have been shown to cause harm to children's health and the environment. Phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied products in the world, and have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's review of the safety of phthalates in vinyl toys included the unequivocal statement that there is ‘no demonstrated health risk.' After all this study and review, no reliable scientific evidence has found phthalates to cause adverse human health effects."

America's leading chemical companies have taken the steps to go above and beyond government rules and regulations with American Chemistry Council's flagship program, the Responsible Care® performance initiative. The U.S. chemistry industry continues to invest heavily in the application of improved technologies to ensure the safe production and use of essential chemical products. Today, people are living longer, safer and healthier lives through the essential benefits provided by the business of chemistry.

ACC Corrects Erroneous Statements about Phthalates

3/7/2008

The American Chemistry Council today expressed concern about legislative proposals to ban phthalates from children's products. ACC believes that the legislative measures will not produce the benefits envisioned by those supporting them and that there is no scientific basis for removing phthalates from children's products.

Marian Stanley, manager of the Phthalate Esters Panel at ACC, said, "Our children's health and safety is too important to rush through legislative bans on products without understanding their full consequences - including unintended and possibly detrimental effects."

Phthalates are among the most thoroughly tested families of compounds in use today. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's review of the safety of phthalates in vinyl children's products determined that there is 'no demonstrated health risk.' After all this study and review, no reliable scientific evidence has found phthalates to cause adverse human health effects.

Phthalates are primarily used to make vinyl soft and flexible and are an important part of our everyday lives. Flexible vinyl products are used in hospitals to help save lives and in our cars, homes and workplaces.

Dean Finney, member of the Phthalate Esters Panel, indicated that there have been a lot of misstatements about phthalates which are only serving to scare parents unnecessarily. "Parents want to know that the products they are giving their children are safe. Scaring them into believing health allegations about products that have been in the marketplace for years with no ill health effects is unnecessary and irresponsible."

"There is no scientific basis for removing phthalates from children's products. Banning ingredients that the CPSC has directly said present no demonstrated health risk in children's vinyl toys does nothing to increase child safety," said Dr. Raymond David, a toxicologist and member of the Panel. "After more than 50 years of use, phthalates have not been reliably shown to cause harm to human health or the environment."

To listen to the replay of today's media teleconference, please dial (800) 475-6701 and enter the access code 914841.

ACC Believes Amendment to Consumer Products Safety Commission Reform Act Will Not Produce Benefits Envisioned by Authors

3/5/2008

The American Chemistry Council today expressed disappointment at the introduction of Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act (S. 2663). The amendment seeks to ban certain phthalates from children's products, yet ACC believes that the amendment will not produce the benefits envisioned by its sponsors. ACC Vice President of Products Divisions, Sharon Kneiss, issued the following statement:

"We all share a mutual interest in the need to protect the health of children, and ACC believes that the proposed amendment will not achieve this objective. Furthermore, the modified proposal contains sweeping new provisions that require the full and diligent review and deliberation of Congress through the normal process, not through an amendment to the CPSC Reauthorization bill. Our children's health and safety is too important to rush through changes without understanding their full consequences - including unintended and possibly detrimental effects.

"Senator Feinstein's amendment would prohibit use of certain ingredients in children's toys called phthalates. Some phthalates are added to vinyl products to make them soft and flexible without compromising durability. Phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied products in the world, and have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's review of the safety of phthalates in vinyl toys unequivocally included the statement that there is 'no demonstrated health risk.' After all this study and review, no reliable scientific evidence has found phthalates to cause adverse human health effects.

"America's leading chemical companies have taken the steps to go above and beyond government rules and regulations with American Chemistry Council's flagship program, the Responsible Care® performance initiative. The U.S. chemistry industry continues to invest heavily in the application of improved technologies to ensure the safe production and use of essential chemical products. Today, people are living longer, safer and healthier lives through the essential benefits provided by the business of chemistry.

The American Chemistry Council Finds Faults In Baby Care Products Study

2/4/2008

In an article that will be published next month in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH - together with six other researchers - outlines the findings of a study that seeks to explore the sources of infant phthalate exposure through the use of baby care products such as lotions, powders, shampoos and creams.

The study's recommendation to limit the "amount of infant care products used and not to apply lotions or powders unless indicated for a medical reason" is an extreme and unnecessary measure that is not supported by existing science and not justified by the data presented in the article.

"All parents want to feel confident that they are keeping their children safe and healthy," stated Marian Stanley, Phthalates Esters Panel Manager at the ACC. "We believe that there is potential value in the study of metabolized phthalates. But we take great exception to any effort to draw unfounded conclusions that suggest human health risks are associated with the mere presence of very low levels of metabolized phthalates in urine. In fifty or more years of use, no reliable evidence has ever been found that phthalates, either alone or in combination, causes negative health effects in humans," continued Stanley.

This report produces data that are decidedly inconclusive. The value of the study is further limited in that it provides no information on the source of the exposure. It contains unusually wide ranges of values for the phthalates metabolites listed which only demonstrates that the values recorded are wildly variable and are inconclusive.

Stanley continues, "We are also concerned that the report mixes items such as toys and pacifiers with baby care products such as talcum powder and infant shampoo. It is disturbing that the authors of the study do not appear to know that pacifiers made in the United States are made of latex or silicone and are not made with phthalates. Due to the many shortcomings of this particular study, we do not believe that it adds value to the existing body of research on phthalate esters and we do not believe that should provide the basis for any specific recommendations or actions on the part of consumers or manufactures."

The Phthalate Esters Panel will provide a more in depth analysis and assessment of this study and post it our web site when available. http://www.phthalates.org