| Abstract: | Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) is widely added as a plasticizer in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in children’s products. Forty-two plastic products intended for mouthing, or with a high potential for mouthing, by children of age group 0.5-3 years were analyzed for total and leachable phthalate contents. DINP was found in 64% of products tested and its concentration ranged from 3.9 to 44%. Migration of DINP from PVC products into saliva simulant was studied using simulated chewing activity and an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Under the conditions used in this study, the DINP migration rates from teethers and squeeze toys were found to vary from 0.04 to 1.29 µg/10 cm 2 /h. The migration rates show a 40-fold variation within the plastic products tested. However, 83% of the products showed a migration rate of <0.32 µg/10 cm2/h. The mean value was found to be 0.3 µg/10 cm2/h with a distribution median of 0.23 µg/10 cm2/h. |
