Question from Ethel
Hello Debra,
I had a question about PVC & PHLALATES, I just called the munchkin company about their products containing either one of these chemicals and her response to me (which she wasnt 100% sure)was the phlalates is a chemical added to PVC products. So if the Phlalates are removed from the PVC product then that would make the product with PVC safe. I also have a diaper changing pad made by Serta claiming it has no Phlalates but yet contains vinyl which the company confirmed it’s a PVC vinyl.
I wasnt sure if you or any of your readers had any info on this considering i’m rather confused about the whole situation.
Any information would be greatly appreciated… Thank You
Debra’s Answer
Phthlates are added to PVC used to make baby products, however, removing it does NOT make PVC safe. PVC is still PVC, which is considered by Greenpeace to be the most toxic and environmentally damaging plastic there is and they have a program to eliminate it.
The only safe plastic to use for baby products is polyethylene.
It has been illegal since February 9 of this year to sell baby mattresses and some other baby products containing phthalates in the United States. But many products and mattresses are still made with PVC (also called, simply, vinyl).
My recommendation is to avoid both phthlates and PVC.
Hi Debra,
I was looking to buy nursery wall stickers and some manufacturers say they are made with nontoxic quality vinyl, some say nontoxic PVC. Are PVC and vinyl same? Is there a such thing as “nontoxic” PVC or vinyl?
What should wall stickers me made that are safe?
Thanks.
PVC and vinyl are often the same thing, but other materials can be called “vinyl.” Soft PVC is NEVER nontoxic. I don’t know where you saw this. I searched for “nontoxic vinyl” and nothing came up.”
My opinion of plastic wall stickers is they are toxic vinyl with toxic adhesive on the back. If you can find any made of any other material I’ll look at them, but my best recommendation is don’t use them.
Thank you. These are some of the examples where manufacturers claim the material is nontoxic PVC or vinyl.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Owl-Tree-branch-elephant-Wall-Art-Stickers-Kids-Nursery-Vinyl-Decal-Removable-/282073521103?hash=item41ace45bcf:g:IBgAAOxyZzlTeGXv
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Custom-Personalised-Name-Birds-Butterfly-Branch-Wall-Sticker-Decal-Nursery-Decor-/201150669949?var=&hash=item2ed583a47d:m:mqmKaFfnQoAtO16VtXKAfug
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Animals-Train-Removable-Wall-Art-Decals-Vinyl-Nursery-Stickers-Home-Decor-Kids/221864852091?_trksid=p2045573.c100507.m3226&_trkparms=aid%3D555014%26algo%3DPL.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160630134829%26meid%3Deb6ead8e480847caa9589671f3ea7ee0%26pid%3D100507%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26
These are all in Australia and maybe you live there too. I would contact these companies and ask them why they think their vinyl is nontoxic. Post their replies here and I will comment on them.