What is Polyvinyl Chloride or Phthalate?
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, or Vinyl) aka Phthalates are one of the most commonly used materials in the consumer marketplace. Polyvinyl Chloride is found in packaging, construction and automotive material, all categories of products, including toys, and medical equipment. PVC contains Phthalates, which accumulate in body tissues, and can damage liver, lungs, and have been shown in lower mammals to damage reproductive organs. Phthalates are freely given off by plastics in which it occurs, and because it is fat soluble, is found in quantity in meats and cheeses wrapped in PVC packaging. Although Phthalates show almost no toxicity in adult humans in acute (short term) doses, even at high doses, it is the cumulative nature of phthalate toxicity which results in toxic effects even at very low dosage when ingested chronically (over a long period of time). Very young infants do not metabolize Phthalates as well as adults, and so are at greater risk of harm. The common availability of Phthalates
