Sunday 2 November 2014

Phthalates in Sex Toys and How They Are Harmful to the Body

What are phthalates?
Chemical use in sex toys has been unregulated for a long time and has most recently been exposed by Greenpeace who called to make the usage of phthalates prohibited in sexual aids for the sake of our health and well being and the environment.
Pronounced 'thal-ates' they are chemicals employed in the production of plastic materials for making them softer and more pliable, employed as a plasticizer (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity) they've been used from the 1920's, produced by phthalic acid, phthalates are employed in numerous goods from perfume, pesticide, plastics and sex toys.The most widely-used phthalates are the di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), the diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and the diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
What do phthalates do to the environment?
Phthalates are very easily released into the natural environment given that there's no bond between the phthalates and plastics in which they're blended. As the material ages the rate of release speeds up, they take a lengthy time for it to break down and degrade.
Phthalates were banned from children's toys
In 2005 the EU banned the use of the phthalate DEHP in children's toys considering of its detrimental effect on young children. Even though the sex toy industry still goes unregulated.
Why do they use phthalates in sex toys if they are harmful?
The primary reason companies use phthalates is due to the fact they are cheap. The adult toy industry has been inundated with low-cost, sleazy goods for many years with little regard to the health of users. Fortunately now anybody who loves sex and uses sex toys on a frequent basis is able to do so with out associated risk to their health.
How do phthalates cause harm to the body?
There's a growing body of investigation that suggests phthalates have a toxic effect, which includes hormone disruption affecting female estregen levels along with the male reproductive system.
Studies on rodents have revealed that when exposed to really huge doses, phthalates can trigger damage to the liver, lungs, kidneys, testes and can cause hormonal disruption. The most current analysis shows that exposure to these substances can upset the body's capacity to regulate hormone production, damage reproduction, and cause liver and kidney defects. They can also possibly cause cancer.
In 2006, the National Toxicology Program reviewed the science and concluded that:
"There is serious concern that certain intensive medical treatments of male infants may result in DEHP exposures levels that affect development of the male reproductive tract."
"There is concern for adverse effects on development of the reproductive tract in male offspring of pregnant and breastfeeding women undergoing certain medical procedures that may result in exposure to high levels of DEHP."
Fundamentally phthalates are harmful chemicals which can be absorbed by way of the vaginal or anal wall and contact with the body.
How to tell if your adult toy has phthalates in it:
How does it smell - strong chemicals?
Is it soft-feel and pliable?
Is it made from 'jelly'
Is it a cheap sex toy?
The easiest way to check if your sex toy is made from harmful chemicals is how is smells - the toxic chemicals used inside the material give it a distinct smell. A phthalate free product should be odourless.
If your sex toy is made from 'jelly' or latex it will most likely be toxic. Phthalate free sex toys are made from medical grade silicone, or any natural material.
If you are in doubt check with the brand of sex toy if they are phthalate free it will be clearly explained on the product packaging or their web site.



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