Phthalates allow manufacturers to create products that possess all the important characteristics of vinyl (durability, resistance to chemicals and oxygen, etc.) while being flexible and resistant to breakage. Some of the most common applications of flexible vinyl that contains phthalates are:
- Flexible plastic tubing used to deliver medicines to patients intravenously (through an IV)
- Wall coverings in hospitals and clinics that are easily cleaned and prevent the spread of infection and disease
- Blood bags used to transport blood safely and without the risk of contamination
Some concerns have arisen about the safety of exposure to phthalates because of adverse effects in experimental animals. No studies have been conducted that show effects in humans. Although the use of flexible vinyl in medical products may result in exposure to phthalates, this exposure has been shown to be very low.
At these very low levels of exposure, the risk of any adverse effects of phthalates to human health is very small and does not give rise to a health or safety concern. The small risk is clearly offset by the benefits of the use of flexible vinyl in medical applications.
One such benefit is that flexible vinyl tubing does not react with most medications and allows for the administration of these life saving drugs. Flexible vinyl bags prevent contamination of stored blood and has a beneficial effect on the shelf-life of this blood.
There continues to be no more effective material than flexible vinyl for medical applications and data indicates that phthalates can be safely used in these applications.