Phthalates in school supplies Links

1. Some of the websites providing factual information on Phthalates in school supplies:

   • 1. Information on health risks due to phthalates in school supplies
   • 2. Links addressing phthalates and health risks to children
   • 3. Institutions addressing phthalates in general

1. Information on health risks due to phthalates in school supplies

• The Danish Environmental Protection Agency published the results of a study analysing the possible harmful impacts from substances being emitted from school bags, toy bags, pencil cases and erasers. The summary and the full study are available at:
  www.mst.dk/Udgivelser/Publications/2007/08/978-87-7052-547-3.htm 
• The opinion by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) on phthalates in school supplies assessing the Danish study on this topic is available at:  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scher/docs/scher_o_106.pdf

2. Links addressing phthalates and health risks to children

• The European ban of the use of six phthalates in soft PVC toys and childcare articles by a Commission decision in 1999 followed by a directive in 2005. More information at:
  http://ec.europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l32033.htm 
  The European Commission issued a guidance document on the interpretation of the concept “which can be placed in the mouth”, which is often referred to in risk assessments of phthalates in toys and childcare products:
   http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/chemicals/legislation/markrestr/guidance_document_final.pdf
• Upon request by Directorate General Enterprise of the European Commission a report on "The Availability of Substitutes for Soft PVC Containing Phthalates in Certain Toys and Childcare Articles" was prepared by RPA Ltd. in association with the Research Institute for Toxicology (Utrecht University). The report is available at:  www.rpaltd.co.uk/documents/phthalates_000.pdf
• Opinions of the E.U. Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE):
  • 1998 opinion on "Phthalate migration from soft PVC toys and child-care articles", available at:
     http://ec.europa.eu/comm/health/ph_risk/committees/sct/documents/out12_en.pdf
  • 2001 opinion on the RPA Report on "The Availability of Substitutes for Soft PVC Containing Phthalates in Certain Toys and Childcare Articles", available at:
    http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/sct/docshtml/sct_out92_en.htm  
• The Canadian government has taken actions to increase the safety of consumers, especially children with regard to the presence of phthalates. More information at:
  www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/interest-interet/phthalates_e.html 

3. Institutions addressing phthalates in general

• The formerly known European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) published risk assessment reports on several phthalates including five of the most widely used ones: DEHP, DBP, DIDP, DINP and BBP. Summaries by GreenFacts are available at: www.greenfacts.org/en/digests/phthalates.htm
• The opinions of the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) on the results of the ECB risk assessment of different phthalates are posted at:
  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/sct/sct_opinions_en.htm 
  
  • for  DEHP
  • for  DINP
  • for  DIDP
  • for  DBP
• The European Commission published two communications on phthalates in 2006:
  
  • on risk reduction measures for different phthalates
    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:104:0045:0047:EN:PDF 
  • on the results of the risk evaluation and the risk reduction strategies for those substances:
    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2006:090:0004:0028:EN:PDF 
• The Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gives its opinion on the use of the phthalate DEHP in food contact materials at: www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/ScientificPanels/AFC/ 
  • for DBP 
  • for DIDP 
  • for DINP 
  • for DEHP 
  • for BBP 
• The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) published a report in 2003 on "Human exposure to selected phthalates in Denmark”:
   http://gl.foedevarestyrelsen.dk/FDir/Publications/2003015/Rapport.pdf
• The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides general information on phthalates and more specific information on different kinds of phthalates at:
  www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/results_06.htm