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Europe considers tests on PVC toys

It met on Tuesday to discuss whether there should be a Europe-wide safety test on pthalates, chemicals found in some PVC toys, such as some makes of rubber ducks.

Laboratory tests on animals have shown the chemicals, which leach into the environment, could lead to sterility and cancer in later life and scientists fear prolonged sucking of PVC toys by children could pose a risk to humans.

But others say the risk is not proven.

The chemicals used in PVC help to make toys more flexible.

Bans

Spain and Denmark have banned PVC toys.

Since June, the UK Government, which is under pressure from environmentalists to introduce a similar ban, has introduced a standard safety test for sucked toys.

Scientists in Italy are trying to develop a test which could be applied across the European Union.

The European Joint Research Centre has been studying the effects of pthalates and has developed a test which simulates the sucking action of small children.

They put simulated children's saliva in a container with samples of PVC toys and add them to a machine which mimics the action of sucking.

They then measure how much pthalate has been absorbed.

Dr Catherine Simoneau, who is leading the research, said: "Children have very small bodies so they are more fragile. Any concentration of a substance will have a stronger effect on them as they are not ready to process everything and get rid of everything."

She added that a standard test was necessary so that regulations on safety were enforced.

However, no action will be taken in the immediate future, as the Euroean Commission is still recovering from recent scandal.

The entire commission had resigned following accusations of corruption.

A spokesman said that once the new commission was up and running it would be in a position to draw up proposals.

Relevant Stories

Simple treatment makes PVC safer (16 Dec 98 | Sci/Tech)
Rubber ducks in toxic lather (02 Jul 98 | Health)

Internet Links

Ramsay PVC Centre
Greenpeace on PVC toys
European Commission

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