Letter signed by over 50 human health and environment public interest groups in opposition to any authorisation under REACH regulation for the use in Europe of the phthalate DEHP in PVC plastic items.

Signed by Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe in November 2014.

This publication lists alternatives to common medical devices in the NICU that contain PVC and DEHP. Health Care Without Harm does not endorse any of these products, has not tested them for safety or efficacy, and does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the information or product performance. Listing here is based solely on information provided by the manufacturer.This list is a work in progress.

Preparado por Ted Schettler MD, MPH
Science and Environmental Health Network

Women’s Environmental Network, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, and Health Care Without Harm contracted a certified Swedish analytical laboratory to test 34 name-brand cosmetic products for phthalates, a large family of synthetic chemicals linked to decreased fertility and reproductive defects. The laboratory found phthalates in nearly 80% of the products. More than half of the tested cosmetics contained more than one type of phthalate. Major brands included products by Boots, Christian Dior, L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Lever Fabergé, and Wella.

Poster presented at the 2006 National Association of Neonatal Nurses Conference

In January 2003, the National Chemicals Inspectorate of Sweden (KEMI) issued a DEHP Risk Reduction Strategy.

In January 2002, a Health Canada Expert Advisory Panel on DEHP in Medical Devices advised that immediate action be taken to protect pregnant women, sick infants, and other vulnerable patients from DEHP exposure via PVC medical devices (pdf)