Phthalates

Background.

1. How/why do we use this chemical? We use Phthalates to make hard plastics into soft plastics. It’s basically a chemical put into polyvinyl chloride to make it flexible. It is often used in toys for children.

2. What products is it used in? Usually Phthalates are used in kid toys. But they aren’t only used in children’s toys. They are used to make things easier and safer for us. We use them in our homes, cars, and hospitals.

3. What benefits does this chemical offer these products? This chemical is good for making our lives easier. It is used for making plastic flexible, and softer.

4. Where in the world is it used? It is used in the U.S, not Europe.

5. Is it banned anywhere? Phthalates are going to be banned in California starting in 2009, and they are restricted in Europe.

Synthesis/Production Section: -How is the chemical made/refined? phthalate made by the reaction of butylalcohol and benzylalcohol with phtalic acid.

-How are common products that contain this chemical made? The plastics need to be made into a flexible plastic.

Economic/Political Impact -What/who would be affected if the chemical were banned? If this chemical was banned we would need to find many different alternatives to make plastic flexible and new ways to make our lives easier.

-What are the costs of alternatives? Adipates, polyesters, trimellitates, citrates, benzoates, phosphates, and alkyl sulphonates.

-What products would we not have if it were banned? Nothing would be permanently out of our lives. There’s many other chemicals to take it’s place.

-What countries export and/or use this product? USA. -How would a ban affect you (or the average American)? People might loose their jobs in factories for a while. And people would need to start working on making our everyday products with this new alternative.

Human health implications

-What are the possible dangers associated with this chemical? The possible dangers associated with these chemicals is that it can damage the liver and cause birth defects. Researchers also found that if they have too many in their body there is a high chance that they will have more allergies.

-How, specifically, does this chemical affect the body? In some studies that different schools have done the results showed that if people are exposed to a small amount of this chemical over a period of time, it’s not harmful.

“The latest research findings and current understanding of the health and environmental effects of phthalates clearly show that they do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. “ -http://www.phthalates.com/index.asp?page=5

-What human body processes are affected by this chemical? This chemical does not affect any body processes.

-What human systems are affected by this chemical? (eg reproductive, endocrine) Young infants are more likely to be effected by phthalates. Their metabolism will be affected. Developing endocrine and reproductive systems will also be slowed down.

-Include chemical reactions that take place in the body.

Environmental implications -What specific environmental systems/processes does your chemical interact with? None. It interact with no specific system.

-How does the chemical interacts with the environment? This chemical interacts with the environment because it is all over the place. It is in a lot of things that are made out of plastic.

-What happens when this chemical degrades? What byproducts are formed?

-How long does it take to degrade? This chemical won’t degrade from any bacterial. But it is very easy to be degrade it in the lab.

-How is it disposed of? Since it is used to make plastics, it is usually just thrown away. Then put in a landfill somewhere along the line.