Phthalates are a family of man-made chemicals that have applications in medical, automotive and consumer product industries. Phthalates are most well-known for their use as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials such as food packaging, flooring, and medical devices. Phthalates have been found in other products like nail polish, plastics and adult toys like dildos and lubes. In recent years, di-nonyl phthalate (DiNP) and di-decyl phthalate (DiDP) have increasingly replaced DEHP in these applications. Alternatively, low-molecular weight phthalates, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), are primarily added to cosmetics and personal care products as solvents, fixatives and adhesives. Due to non-covalent bonds between the phthalate chemicals and their parent materials, there can be significant leaching and volatilization leading to environmental contamination and thus ubiquitous exposures in the general population. In fact, a recent report showed that metabolite biomarkers of eight major phthalates have been detected in 89% to 98% of the United States (US) population.
While their existence is largely positive, we shouldn’t always assume our adult sex toys are just fun toys to get us off. In some cases, poorly-made or hard-to-sterilize toys could even lead to injury and illness. WHAT LAWS CURRENTLY APPLY TO SEX TOYS? Sex toys are largely unregulated in the US.. “The US does not have a general, non-electrical, product safety regulation,” Hayward says, explaining that the Food and Drink Administration only regulates devices that have medical or therapeutic uses in treating sexual dysfunction, rather than toys made for pleasure. (An FDA spokesperson confirmed this over email.) “But there are," he adds, "federal government powers to recall unsafe products.” Because of this lack of specific and detailed regulation, unwitting buyers may end up purchasing unsafe toys made from unknown materials and toxic chemicals.
Cheap sex toys like single-use cock rings and single-use bullet vibrators are often marketed as novelty items, with the majority being made from so-called jelly rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is impossible to know the exact make-up of these toys, and just how harmful they really are, as most retailers do not break down individual ingredients in product descriptions. What we do know is that they can be harmful to the human body. Some users of dildos that include Phthlates has reported burning sensation that can last for days and pretty much bring a halt to the sex session. They also have a particular easy to identify odor. If you insist of using one of these dildos because it might be the perfect fit, we suggest at least adding a few condoms to the toy before inserting it into your body. Then remove the comdoms after use. Since keeping the condoms on the product for an extended period of time could cause the dildo to melt the condoms causing an even bigger mess.
Phthalates can leak out of adult toys, affecting the hormone balance of your body and your reproductive functions. They've been linked to breast cancer by breast cancer charities, and to asthma by a Norwegian research team, and the fact some variants are banned in the US for use in children’s toys should make you wonder what the hell they’re doing in sex toys at all, given that the US Environmental Protection Agency has designated them a toxic chemical. “Cheap toys made of materials with unknown composition often saturate the marketplace because of their affordability,” says Savva Panayiotou, co-founder of body-safe and ethical retailer, Peepshow Toys. “There are many horror stories of toys that have literally melted, sweated oils, or given off foul odours. This phenomenon is alarming.” KNOW THY DILDO To ensure your sex toys are safe, the first thing to look at is what they’re made from. “Check whether it’s a porous material—something which bacteria, viruses and fungus can penetrate,” advises Francesca Cross, activist and owner of inclusive online sex shop The Pleasure Garden.
So next time you shop at AdultToysCity.com look for the words 'Phthalate Free' or 'latex free' or 'environmentally safe' or 'hypoallergenic' in the description. Sex Toys should be fun and enhance your sexual endeavors, not endanger your body.