Advisory Panel Begins Study of Health Risks From Phthalates in Toys, Child Care Products

A Consumer Product Safety Commission advisory panel of seven scientists began work April 14 on examining the potential health risks of 10 phthalates used to manufacture children’s toys and child care articles.

The commission’s Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on Phthalates met for the first time April 14-15. It will study and report to the commission over the next two years on whether to permanently ban several of the phthalates. The study will include an examination of the chemicals’ potential to disrupt human hormones, CPSC said.

The panel will review dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl ...