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== What are Phthalates? ==
Ensuring the safety of sex toys is crucial for both physical health and overall well-being. With the market flooded with a variety of products made from different materials, it is essential to understand what goes into these toys and how they can impact your body. This guide provides detailed information on common materials used in sex toys, their potential health risks, and how to choose safer alternatives. By being informed, you can make better choices and enjoy your experiences with confidence and peace of mind.


Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers, i.e., substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
'''Source:''' ("Sex toy safety guide," 2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sex toy safety guide |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/FemdomCommunity/wiki/index/sextoysafety/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=reddit.com |publisher=<code>r/FemdomCommunity</code> Moderation Team}}</ref>


In 2010, the market was still dominated by high-phthalate plasticizers; however, due to legal provisions and growing environmental awareness and perceptions, producers are increasingly forced to use non-phthalate plasticizers.
= Safe and High-Quality Toys =
Ensuring the safety and quality of sex toys doesn't have to be costly. Here are some resources and tips for finding body-safe toys that fit any budget!


== A List of Common Phthalates and Their Abbreviations ==
Explore [http://dangerouslilly.com/2015/06/35-body-safe-sex-toys-under-35/ this list by Dangerous Lilly] for non-toxic, body-safe sex toys that cost $50 USD or less.


{| class="wikitable" style="width:72em"
For comprehensive reviews ranging from affordable to luxury options, check out [https://carasutra.com/reviewcat/sex-toy-reviews/ Cara Sutra's reviews]. This UK-based reviewer provides detailed and responsible information on a wide variety of sex toys.
|+ <small>Ordered by molecular weight, commercially important compounds shown in bold</small>
 
= Safe and Unsafe Toy Materials =
Understanding which materials are safe and which are not can help you make better choices when selecting sex toys. This section outlines materials to avoid and safer alternatives.
 
== What Toy Materials Are Generally Safe? ==
Opt for sex toys made from the following materials, which are generally considered body-safe and non-toxic:
 
* '''Silicone''' - 100% medical or food grade silicone is very body safe, non-porous, and phthalate-free. Avoid "silicone blend." Food grade silicone is as safe as medical grade silicone for sex toy use, though medical grade silicone toys tend to have a higher price tag.
* '''Glass''' - Non-painted glass insertables are body safe. Annealed toys are best. "Pyrex" is a meaningless term for glass sex toys.
* '''Medical grade steel''' - recommended by surgeons worldwide
* '''Ceramic''' - glazed and kiln-fired ceramic is non-porous and body safe
* '''Aluminum''' - powder-coated toys are non-porous and safe
* '''ABS plastics''' - technically non-toxic but may be slightly porous
 
== What Toy Materials Should I Avoid? ==
Certain materials used in sex toys can pose health risks. Avoid the following materials to ensure your health and safety:
 
* '''Explicit Warnings''': Avoid any product labeled "'''Novelty Use Only'''" or "'''Not Intended For Internal Use'''".
** These labels indicate the manufacturer is aware that the product is unsafe for internal use and should not be used as a sex toy.
** Using these products internally can pose significant health risks due to the potentially harmful materials used.
* [[Sex Toy Safety Guide#Phthalates and Their Risks|'''Phthalates''']]: Phthalates are plasticizers added to plastics to increase flexibility and durability.
** Phthalates pose significant health risks, including endocrine disruption and potential reproductive harm.
** They are commonly found in cheaper sex toys made from PVC and other flexible plastics.
* '''Jelly''': All squishy, jelly-type ''(jellee, jele)'' toys should be avoided.
** These toys are often sold cheaply (e.g., $10 on Wish).
** They often includes phthalates and other harmful chemicals and are highly porous, making them unsafe as they can harbor bacteria and fungi, and degrade over time.
* '''Rubber''': Be cautious with rubber sex toys.
** Even "skin safe" rubber may contain phthalates and other harmful chemicals.
** Rubber is porous, which can lead to bacterial growth and degradation.
* '''Vinyl''': Vinyl toys can contain harmful additives.
** Vinyl often includes phthalates to make it flexible.
** The safety of vinyl sex toys is questionable due to the potential presence of toxic chemicals.
* '''PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)''': Commonly used in flexible plastic toys.
** PVC often contains phthalates to increase flexibility.
** It is not safe for internal use due to the risk of chemical leaching.
* '''Proprietary Materials''': These materials are likely to contain phthalates and other unsafe chemicals, and they are often highly porous, which can harbor bacteria and fungi. Avoid toys made from materials like:
** '''Cyberskin'''
** '''UR3'''
** '''Futorotic'''
** '''Fanta Flesh'''
** '''Neoskin'''
** '''FauxFlesh'''
* '''Porous Materials''': These materials may be phthalate-free ''in theory'' but are porous and can harbor bacteria and fungi, making them unsafe for prolonged use. Materials that can harbor bacteria and fungi include:
** '''TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)'''
** '''TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber)'''
** '''Elastomer'''
** '''TPR-silicone'''
** '''SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene)'''
 
=== Phthalates and Their Risks ===
Phthalates are commonly used in sex toys to increase flexibility and durability, but they pose significant health risks. This section delves into what phthalates are, their common forms, associated health concerns, and legal regulations.
 
==== What are Phthalates? ====
Phthalates are plasticizers added to plastics to increase flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, primarily used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Note that while phthalates are usually plasticizers, not all plasticizers are phthalates. The two terms are specific and unique and cannot be used interchangeably.
 
By 2010, high-phthalate plasticizers still dominated the market. However, due to legal provisions and growing environmental awareness, producers are increasingly using non-phthalate plasticizers.
 
==== Common Phthalates and Their Abbreviations ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ style=text-align:center |Common Phthalates<ref>{{cite web |title=Common Phthalates |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates#Production |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608222728/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates#Production |archive-date=8 June 2024 |access-date=23 September 2023 |website=en.wikipedia.org |publisher=Wikipedia Foundation}}</ref> <BR><small>Ordered by molecular weight, commercially important compounds shown in bold</small>
|-
|-
! Name
! Name
! Abbreviation
! Abbreviation
! style=max-width:4em | Alcohol carbon number
! style=max-width:4em |Alcohol carbon number
! style=max-width:5em |[[Molecular weight]] (g/mol)
! style=max-width:6em |[[wikipedia:Molecular weight|Molecular weight]] (g/mol)
! style=min-width:5em |[[CAS registry number|CAS No.]]
! style=min-width:5em |[[wikipedia:CAS registry number|CAS No.]]
! Properties of concern for human health ([[ECHA]] classification 2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Search for Chemicals - ECHA |url=https://echa.europa.eu/search-for-chemicals? |website=echa.europa.eu |publisher=European Chemicals Agency |access-date=9 June 2022 |quote=Enter CAS No's to validate manually}}</ref>
! Properties of concern for human health ([[wikipedia:ECHA|ECHA]] classification 2022)
|-
|-
| [[Dimethyl phthalate]] || DMP || 1 || 194.18 || 131-11-3 ||
| [[wikipedia:Dimethyl phthalate|Dimethyl phthalate]] || DMP || 1 || 194.18 || 131-11-3 ||
|-
|-
| [[Diethyl phthalate]] || DEP || 2 || 222.24 || 84-66-2 || Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting
| [[wikipedia:Diethyl phthalate|Diethyl phthalate]] || DEP || 2 || 222.24 || 84-66-2 || Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting
|-
|-
| Diallyl phthalate || DAP || 3 || 246.26 || 131-17-9 || Skin sensitising
| Diallyl phthalate || DAP || 3 || 246.26 || 131-17-9 || Skin sensitising
Line 25: Line 86:
| Di-n-propyl phthalate || DPP || 3 || 250.29 || 131-16-8 ||
| Di-n-propyl phthalate || DPP || 3 || 250.29 || 131-16-8 ||
|-
|-
| '''[[Di-n-butyl phthalate]]''' || '''DBP''' || 4 || 278.34 || 84-74-2 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Under assessment as [[Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances|PBT]]
| '''[[wikipedia:Di-n-butyl phthalate|Di-n-butyl phthalate]]''' || '''DBP''' || 4 || 278.34 || 84-74-2 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Under assessment as [[wikipedia:Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances|PBT]]
|-
|-
| [[Diisobutyl phthalate]] || DIBP || 4 || 278.34 || 84-69-5 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
| [[wikipedia:Diisobutyl phthalate|Diisobutyl phthalate]] || DIBP || 4 || 278.34 || 84-69-5 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
|-
|-
| [[Bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate|Di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate]] || DMEP || 3 || 282.29 ||  117-82-8 || Toxic to Reproduction
| [[wikipedia:Bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate|Di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate]] || DMEP || 3 || 282.29 ||  117-82-8 || Toxic to Reproduction
|-
|-
| Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate || BCP || 4 – 6 || 304.38 || 84-64-0  ||
| Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate || BCP || 4 – 6 || 304.38 || 84-64-0  ||
Line 37: Line 98:
| Dicyclohexyl phthalate || DCP || 6 || 330.42 || 84-61-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Skin sensitising
| Dicyclohexyl phthalate || DCP || 6 || 330.42 || 84-61-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Skin sensitising
|-
|-
| '''[[Butyl benzyl phthalate]]''' || '''BBP''' || 4 – 7 || 312.36 || 85-68-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
| '''[[wikipedia:Butyl benzyl phthalate|Butyl benzyl phthalate]]''' || '''BBP''' || 4 – 7 || 312.36 || 85-68-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
|-
|-
| Di-n-hexyl phthalate || DNHP || 6 || 334.45 || 84-75-3 || Toxic to Reproduction
| Di-n-hexyl phthalate || DNHP || 6 || 334.45 || 84-75-3 || Toxic to Reproduction
Line 43: Line 104:
| Diisohexyl phthalate || DIHxP || 6 || 334.45 || 146-50-9, || Toxic to Reproduction
| Diisohexyl phthalate || DIHxP || 6 || 334.45 || 146-50-9, || Toxic to Reproduction
|-
|-
| [[Diisoheptyl phthalate]] || DIHpP || 7 || 362.5 || 41451-28-9 || Toxic to Reproduction
| [[wikipedia:Diisoheptyl phthalate|Diisoheptyl phthalate]] || DIHpP || 7 || 362.5 || 41451-28-9 || Toxic to Reproduction
|-
|-
| Butyl decyl phthalate || BDP || 4 – 10 || 362.5 || 89-19-0 ||
| Butyl decyl phthalate || BDP || 4 – 10 || 362.5 || 89-19-0 ||
|-
|-
| [[Dibutoxy ethyl phthalate]] || DBEP || 6 || 366.45 || 117-83-9 ||
| [[wikipedia:Dibutoxy ethyl phthalate|Dibutoxy ethyl phthalate]] || DBEP || 6 || 366.45 || 117-83-9 ||
|-
|-
| '''[[Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]]''' || '''DEHP, DOP''' || 8 || 390.56 || 117-81-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
| '''[[wikipedia:Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate|Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate]]''' || '''DEHP, DOP''' || 8 || 390.56 || 117-81-7 || Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
|-
|-
| Di(n-octyl) phthalate || DNOP || 8 || 390.56 || 117-84-0 || Not classified but some uses restricted
| Di(n-octyl) phthalate || DNOP || 8 || 390.56 || 117-84-0 || Not classified but some uses restricted
Line 57: Line 118:
| n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate || ODP || 8 – 10 || 418.61 || 119-07-3||
| n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate || ODP || 8 – 10 || 418.61 || 119-07-3||
|-
|-
| '''[[Diisononyl phthalate]]''' || '''DINP''' || 9 || 418.61 || 28553-12-0 || Not classified but some uses restricted
| '''[[wikipedia:Diisononyl phthalate|Diisononyl phthalate]]''' || '''DINP''' || 9 || 418.61 || 28553-12-0 || Not classified but some uses restricted
|-
|-
| '''[[DPHP|Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate]]''' || '''DPHP''' || 10 || 446.66 || 53306-54-0 || Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting  
| '''[[wikipedia:DPHP|Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate]]''' || '''DPHP''' || 10 || 446.66 || 53306-54-0 || Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting  
|-
|-
| '''[[Diisodecyl phthalate]]''' || '''DIDP''' || 10 || 446.66 || 26761-40-0 ||
| '''[[wikipedia:Diisodecyl phthalate|Diisodecyl phthalate]]''' || '''DIDP''' || 10 || 446.66 || 26761-40-0 ||
|-
|-
| Diundecyl phthalate || DUP || 11 || 474.72 || 3648-20-2 ||
| Diundecyl phthalate || DUP || 11 || 474.72 || 3648-20-2 ||
Line 72: Line 133:
|}
|}


'''Source:''' Common Phthalates. (2023, September 23). In ''Wikipedia''. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates#Production
==== Health Concerns ====
 
An endocrine disruptor is a substance that interferes with the normal hormonal mechanisms that allow a biological organism to interact with its environment. Phthalates are broadly classified as endocrine disruptors; many scientific studies indicate they likely behave as such in humans.
== Health Concerns ==
 
An endocrine disruptor is a substance that interferes with the normal hormonal mechanisms that allow a biological organism to interact with its environment. In the scientific community, phthalates are broadly classified as endocrine disruptors; while many scientific studies indicate the likelihood that phthalates behave as endocrine disruptors in human beings.
 
== Phthalates and the Law ==
 
=== United States of America ===
 
Phthalates in childrens' toys are regulated, in part, by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which became public law 110-314. Section 108 of that law specified that as of February 10, 2009, &quot;it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States any children's toy or child care article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of&quot; DEHP, DBP, or BBP and &quot;it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States any children's toy that can be placed in a child's mouth or child care article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of&quot; DINP, DIDP, DnOP
 
=== European Union ===
 
The use of some phthalates has been restricted in the European Union for use in children's toys since 1999. DEHP, BBP, and DBP are restricted for all toys; DINP, DIDP, and DNOP are restricted only in toys that can be taken into the mouth. The restriction states that the amount of these phthalates may not be greater than 0.1% mass percent of the plasticized part of the toy.
 
The low molecular weight products BBP, DEHP, DIBP, and DBP were added to the Candidate list of Substances for Authorisation under REACH in 2008-9, and added to the Authorisation list in 2012. This means that from February 2015 they are not allowed to be produced in the EU unless authorisation has been granted for a specific use, however they may still be imported in consumer products.
 
== Phthalates and Sex Toys ==
 
While there is some regulation of phthalates in children's toys - the '''sex toy industry remains almost totally unregulated and there is no legal requirement to inform the consumer of just how much phthalate is in the toy'''. Cheap PVC, jelly and &quot;Novelty Use Only&quot; toys will most likely all contain phthalates to some extent - including the ones labelled &quot;non toxic&quot; [http://dangerouslilly.com/2013/03/toxic-sex-toy-truth-education-myths/ (yes, really)].
 
The Danish authorities conducted a study of 16 randomly selected sex toys in 2006. They found that:
 
&quot;Jelly, which is a widely used material designation, has turned out to be plasticized vinyl (PVC). The plasticizer content may be very high up to 70%, which means that more than 2/3 of the materials consist of plasticizers. The plasticizers used are of the phthalate types (DEHP, DNOP; DINP).&quot;
 
That is 7000 times the legal limit for kids toys in the US.
 
Conversely, they also found a vibrator which contained 200ppm Cadmium, a poisonous heavy metal - the legal limit in the EU is 75ppm. Sex toys were also consistently found to contain concentrations of Lead, and three had Arsenic in them. Most of these toys were cheap imports from China.
 
[http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.512.9543&rep=rep1&type=pdf You can find a pdf of the full study here. Read it sitting down].


== But I can just cover it with a condom and it'll be fine, right? ==
==== Legal Regulations ====
Eh, it's a bit complicated. Phthalates are very mobile in oil, and when these cheap jelly toys start to break down - you can see an oily sheen on them. Oils will degrade regular latex condoms, so you might be better off using nitrile or polyurethane. Really though, the safest thing to do is avoid buying these toxic toys.
Phthalates are subject to various legal regulations to limit their use in consumer products, especially those intended for children.


== What toy materials should I avoid? ==
===== United States of America =====
Phthalates in children's toys are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), public law 110-314. Section 108 specifies that as of February 10, 2009, it is unlawful to manufacture, offer for sale, distribute, or import into the United States any children's toy or child care article containing more than 0.1% of DEHP, DBP, or BBP. It is also unlawful to manufacture, offer for sale, distribute, or import any children's toy that can be placed in a child's mouth or child care article containing more than 0.1% of DINP, DIDP, or DnOP.


* Anything that is for &quot;novelty use only&quot;, or &quot;not intended for internal use&quot;
===== European Union =====
* Jelly, jellee, jele - they're all the same, squishy, jelly type toys. $10 on Wish. You know the type.
The use of some phthalates has been restricted in the EU for use in children's toys since 1999. DEHP, BBP, and DBP are restricted for all toys; DINP, DIDP, and DNOP are restricted only in toys that can be taken into the mouth. The restriction states that the amount of these phthalates may not be greater than 0.1% mass percent of the plasticized part of the toy.
* Rubber - even if it's &quot;skin safe&quot;, it may not be because, as we've learned, there's no legal requirement to be honest about your phthalate content.
* Vinyl and PVC
* Proprietary materials like Cyberskin / UR3 / Futorotic / Fanta Flesh / Neoskin / FauxFlesh/ etc – if it’s not pure silicone, and it looks super realistic (and it’s not Fleshlight), it's probably got some phthalates in it.
* TPE, TPR, Elastomer, TPR-silicone, SEBS - these are phthalate free in theory, but they're also porous and can harbour bacteria and fungi.


== What toy materials are safer? ==
Low molecular weight products BBP, DEHP, DIBP, and DBP were added to the Candidate list of Substances for Authorisation under REACH in 2008-9, and added to the Authorisation list in 2012. From February 2015, they are not allowed to be produced in the EU unless authorisation is granted for a specific use; however, they may still be imported in consumer products.


* Silicone - 100% medical or food grade silicone is very body safe. It's non porous so no bacteria or fungi can make a home in it. It contains no phthalates (or arsenic!). You may also see &quot;Platinum Grade Silicone&quot; printed on some toy packaging - this doesn't mean that it's any better than medical or food grade silicone. Platinum is used as a curing agent in the manufacturing process. Avoid anything that says &quot;Silicone blend&quot;.
==== Phthalates and Sex Toys ====
* Glass - Providing that class insertables are not painted, they are very body safe. Annealed toys are best. Pyrex is a meaningless term for glass sex toys.
While there is some regulation of phthalates in children's toys, the '''sex toy industry remains almost totally unregulated, and there is no legal requirement to inform the consumer of phthalate content in toys'''. Cheap PVC, jelly, and "Novelty Use Only" toys will most likely contain phthalates to some extent, including those labeled "non-toxic" [http://dangerouslilly.com/2013/03/toxic-sex-toy-truth-education-myths/ (yes, really)].
* Medical grade steel - recommended by surgeons worldwide.
* Ceramic - as long as the ceramic is glazed and kiln fired, it will be non porous and thus body safe.
* Aluminium - powder coated toys are also non porous, so they're safe.
* ABS plastics - technically non toxic but may be a little porous.


== BUT THEY'RE SO EXPENSIVE???!!! ==
A 2006 Danish study of 16 randomly selected sex toys found that:


I know, right? [http://dangerouslilly.com/2015/06/35-body-safe-sex-toys-under-35/ Here's a regularly updated list of non toxic, body safe sex toys that are $50 or less.]. It's also good to know that food grade silicone is as safe as medical grade silicone for sex toy use - and medical grade silicone toys tend to carry an unnecessarily heavier price tag.
{{Blockquote|quote="Jelly, a widely used material designation, turned out to be plasticized vinyl (PVC). The plasticizer content may be very high, up to 70%, meaning more than 2/3 of the materials consist of plasticizers. The plasticizers used are of the phthalate types (DEHP, DNOP; DINP)."|source=Danish Ministry of The Environment Copenhagen<ref>{{cite journal |title=Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in sex toys |url=https://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2006/87-7052-227-8/pdf/87-7052-228-6.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629031631/https://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2006/87-7052-227-8/pdf/87-7052-228-6.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2024 |access-date=2 July 2024 |journal=Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products |volume=77 |year=2006 |publisher=Danish Ministry of The Environment Copenhagen |author=Nilsson, Nils H; Malmgren-Hansen, Bjørn; Bernth, Nils; Pedersen, Eva; Pommer, Kirsten |quote="Jelly, a widely used material designation, turned out to be plasticized vinyl (PVC). The plasticizer content may be very high, up to 70%, meaning more than 2/3 of the materials consist of plasticizers. The plasticizers used are of the phthalate types (DEHP, DNOP; DINP)."}}</ref>}}


== References and Further Reading ==
This is 7000 times the legal limit for kids' toys in the US.


[http://dangerouslilly.com/ Dangerous Lilly - dildo burner and sex toy nerd, please check out her incredibly fun and informative blog]
Additionally, they found a vibrator containing 200ppm Cadmium, a poisonous heavy metal (EU legal limit: 75ppm). Sex toys were also found to contain Lead, and three had Arsenic. Most of these toys were cheap imports from China.


[http://karasutrareviews.com/ Kara Sutra - sex educator and toy reviewer]
===== Can I just cover it with a condom and it'll be fine? =====
It's complicated. Phthalates are very mobile in oil, and when cheap jelly toys break down, an oily sheen appears. Oils degrade regular latex condoms, so nitrile or polyurethane condoms are better. The safest option is to avoid buying toxic toys.


[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate Wikipedia on Phthalates]
= References and Further Reading =
* [http://dangerouslilly.com/ Dangerous Lilly - Sex Toy Educator and Reviewer]
* [https://carasutra.com/ Cara Sutra - Sex Blogger and Toy Reviewer]
* [http://karasutrareviews.com/ Kara Sutra - Sex Educator and Toy Reviewer]


== Citations ==
== Citations ==
'''Original:''' [u/TheSoftessMoss]<ref>[u/TheSoftessMoss]. (2023, September 23). ''Comments & Advice'' [User Profile]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/user/TheSoftessMoss</ref>. (2023, September 23). ''Sex toy safety guide'' [Online wiki article]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/FemdomCommunity/wiki/index/sextoysafety/<references />
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 17:07, 2 July 2024

Ensuring the safety of sex toys is crucial for both physical health and overall well-being. With the market flooded with a variety of products made from different materials, it is essential to understand what goes into these toys and how they can impact your body. This guide provides detailed information on common materials used in sex toys, their potential health risks, and how to choose safer alternatives. By being informed, you can make better choices and enjoy your experiences with confidence and peace of mind.

Source: ("Sex toy safety guide," 2023)[1]

Safe and High-Quality Toys

Ensuring the safety and quality of sex toys doesn't have to be costly. Here are some resources and tips for finding body-safe toys that fit any budget!

Explore this list by Dangerous Lilly for non-toxic, body-safe sex toys that cost $50 USD or less.

For comprehensive reviews ranging from affordable to luxury options, check out Cara Sutra's reviews. This UK-based reviewer provides detailed and responsible information on a wide variety of sex toys.

Safe and Unsafe Toy Materials

Understanding which materials are safe and which are not can help you make better choices when selecting sex toys. This section outlines materials to avoid and safer alternatives.

What Toy Materials Are Generally Safe?

Opt for sex toys made from the following materials, which are generally considered body-safe and non-toxic:

  • Silicone - 100% medical or food grade silicone is very body safe, non-porous, and phthalate-free. Avoid "silicone blend." Food grade silicone is as safe as medical grade silicone for sex toy use, though medical grade silicone toys tend to have a higher price tag.
  • Glass - Non-painted glass insertables are body safe. Annealed toys are best. "Pyrex" is a meaningless term for glass sex toys.
  • Medical grade steel - recommended by surgeons worldwide
  • Ceramic - glazed and kiln-fired ceramic is non-porous and body safe
  • Aluminum - powder-coated toys are non-porous and safe
  • ABS plastics - technically non-toxic but may be slightly porous

What Toy Materials Should I Avoid?

Certain materials used in sex toys can pose health risks. Avoid the following materials to ensure your health and safety:

  • Explicit Warnings: Avoid any product labeled "Novelty Use Only" or "Not Intended For Internal Use".
    • These labels indicate the manufacturer is aware that the product is unsafe for internal use and should not be used as a sex toy.
    • Using these products internally can pose significant health risks due to the potentially harmful materials used.
  • Phthalates: Phthalates are plasticizers added to plastics to increase flexibility and durability.
    • Phthalates pose significant health risks, including endocrine disruption and potential reproductive harm.
    • They are commonly found in cheaper sex toys made from PVC and other flexible plastics.
  • Jelly: All squishy, jelly-type (jellee, jele) toys should be avoided.
    • These toys are often sold cheaply (e.g., $10 on Wish).
    • They often includes phthalates and other harmful chemicals and are highly porous, making them unsafe as they can harbor bacteria and fungi, and degrade over time.
  • Rubber: Be cautious with rubber sex toys.
    • Even "skin safe" rubber may contain phthalates and other harmful chemicals.
    • Rubber is porous, which can lead to bacterial growth and degradation.
  • Vinyl: Vinyl toys can contain harmful additives.
    • Vinyl often includes phthalates to make it flexible.
    • The safety of vinyl sex toys is questionable due to the potential presence of toxic chemicals.
  • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Commonly used in flexible plastic toys.
    • PVC often contains phthalates to increase flexibility.
    • It is not safe for internal use due to the risk of chemical leaching.
  • Proprietary Materials: These materials are likely to contain phthalates and other unsafe chemicals, and they are often highly porous, which can harbor bacteria and fungi. Avoid toys made from materials like:
    • Cyberskin
    • UR3
    • Futorotic
    • Fanta Flesh
    • Neoskin
    • FauxFlesh
  • Porous Materials: These materials may be phthalate-free in theory but are porous and can harbor bacteria and fungi, making them unsafe for prolonged use. Materials that can harbor bacteria and fungi include:
    • TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
    • TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber)
    • Elastomer
    • TPR-silicone
    • SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene)

Phthalates and Their Risks

Phthalates are commonly used in sex toys to increase flexibility and durability, but they pose significant health risks. This section delves into what phthalates are, their common forms, associated health concerns, and legal regulations.

What are Phthalates?

Phthalates are plasticizers added to plastics to increase flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity, primarily used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Note that while phthalates are usually plasticizers, not all plasticizers are phthalates. The two terms are specific and unique and cannot be used interchangeably.

By 2010, high-phthalate plasticizers still dominated the market. However, due to legal provisions and growing environmental awareness, producers are increasingly using non-phthalate plasticizers.

Common Phthalates and Their Abbreviations

Common Phthalates[2]
Ordered by molecular weight, commercially important compounds shown in bold
Name Abbreviation Alcohol carbon number Molecular weight (g/mol) CAS No. Properties of concern for human health (ECHA classification 2022)
Dimethyl phthalate DMP 1 194.18 131-11-3
Diethyl phthalate DEP 2 222.24 84-66-2 Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting
Diallyl phthalate DAP 3 246.26 131-17-9 Skin sensitising
Di-n-propyl phthalate DPP 3 250.29 131-16-8
Di-n-butyl phthalate DBP 4 278.34 84-74-2 Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Under assessment as PBT
Diisobutyl phthalate DIBP 4 278.34 84-69-5 Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
Di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate DMEP 3 282.29 117-82-8 Toxic to Reproduction
Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate BCP 4 – 6 304.38 84-64-0
Di-n-pentyl phthalate DNPP 5 306.4 131-18-0 Toxic to Reproduction
Dicyclohexyl phthalate DCP 6 330.42 84-61-7 Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Skin sensitising
Butyl benzyl phthalate BBP 4 – 7 312.36 85-68-7 Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
Di-n-hexyl phthalate DNHP 6 334.45 84-75-3 Toxic to Reproduction
Diisohexyl phthalate DIHxP 6 334.45 146-50-9, Toxic to Reproduction
Diisoheptyl phthalate DIHpP 7 362.5 41451-28-9 Toxic to Reproduction
Butyl decyl phthalate BDP 4 – 10 362.5 89-19-0
Dibutoxy ethyl phthalate DBEP 6 366.45 117-83-9
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP, DOP 8 390.56 117-81-7 Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting
Di(n-octyl) phthalate DNOP 8 390.56 117-84-0 Not classified but some uses restricted
Diisooctyl phthalate DIOP 8 390.56 27554-26-3 Toxic to Reproduction
n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate ODP 8 – 10 418.61 119-07-3
Diisononyl phthalate DINP 9 418.61 28553-12-0 Not classified but some uses restricted
Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate DPHP 10 446.66 53306-54-0 Under assessment as Endocrine Disrupting
Diisodecyl phthalate DIDP 10 446.66 26761-40-0
Diundecyl phthalate DUP 11 474.72 3648-20-2
Diisoundecyl phthalate DIUP 11 474.72 85507-79-5
Ditridecyl phthalate DTDP 13 530.82 119-06-2
Diisotridecyl phthalate DITP 13 530.82 68515-47-9

Health Concerns

An endocrine disruptor is a substance that interferes with the normal hormonal mechanisms that allow a biological organism to interact with its environment. Phthalates are broadly classified as endocrine disruptors; many scientific studies indicate they likely behave as such in humans.

Legal Regulations

Phthalates are subject to various legal regulations to limit their use in consumer products, especially those intended for children.

United States of America

Phthalates in children's toys are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), public law 110-314. Section 108 specifies that as of February 10, 2009, it is unlawful to manufacture, offer for sale, distribute, or import into the United States any children's toy or child care article containing more than 0.1% of DEHP, DBP, or BBP. It is also unlawful to manufacture, offer for sale, distribute, or import any children's toy that can be placed in a child's mouth or child care article containing more than 0.1% of DINP, DIDP, or DnOP.

European Union

The use of some phthalates has been restricted in the EU for use in children's toys since 1999. DEHP, BBP, and DBP are restricted for all toys; DINP, DIDP, and DNOP are restricted only in toys that can be taken into the mouth. The restriction states that the amount of these phthalates may not be greater than 0.1% mass percent of the plasticized part of the toy.

Low molecular weight products BBP, DEHP, DIBP, and DBP were added to the Candidate list of Substances for Authorisation under REACH in 2008-9, and added to the Authorisation list in 2012. From February 2015, they are not allowed to be produced in the EU unless authorisation is granted for a specific use; however, they may still be imported in consumer products.

Phthalates and Sex Toys

While there is some regulation of phthalates in children's toys, the sex toy industry remains almost totally unregulated, and there is no legal requirement to inform the consumer of phthalate content in toys. Cheap PVC, jelly, and "Novelty Use Only" toys will most likely contain phthalates to some extent, including those labeled "non-toxic" (yes, really).

A 2006 Danish study of 16 randomly selected sex toys found that:

"Jelly, a widely used material designation, turned out to be plasticized vinyl (PVC). The plasticizer content may be very high, up to 70%, meaning more than 2/3 of the materials consist of plasticizers. The plasticizers used are of the phthalate types (DEHP, DNOP; DINP)."

— Danish Ministry of The Environment Copenhagen[3]

This is 7000 times the legal limit for kids' toys in the US.

Additionally, they found a vibrator containing 200ppm Cadmium, a poisonous heavy metal (EU legal limit: 75ppm). Sex toys were also found to contain Lead, and three had Arsenic. Most of these toys were cheap imports from China.

Can I just cover it with a condom and it'll be fine?

It's complicated. Phthalates are very mobile in oil, and when cheap jelly toys break down, an oily sheen appears. Oils degrade regular latex condoms, so nitrile or polyurethane condoms are better. The safest option is to avoid buying toxic toys.

References and Further Reading

Citations

  1. ↑ "Sex toy safety guide". reddit.com. r/FemdomCommunity Moderation Team. Retrieved 23 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "Common Phthalates". en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Nilsson, Nils H; Malmgren-Hansen, Bjørn; Bernth, Nils; Pedersen, Eva; Pommer, Kirsten (2006). "Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in sex toys" (PDF). Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products. 77. Danish Ministry of The Environment Copenhagen. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024. Jelly, a widely used material designation, turned out to be plasticized vinyl (PVC). The plasticizer content may be very high, up to 70%, meaning more than 2/3 of the materials consist of plasticizers. The plasticizers used are of the phthalate types (DEHP, DNOP; DINP).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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