Sex Toy Safety Guide

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, such as phthalates, 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.

Original: ("Sex toy safety guide," 2023)

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
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

Source: ("Common Phthalates," 2023)

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.

Phthalates and the Law

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

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.

What toy materials should I avoid?

• Anything labeled for "novelty use only" or "not intended for internal use"
• Jelly, jellee, jele - all squishy, jelly type toys (e.g., $10 on Wish)
• Rubber - even "skin safe" rubber may contain phthalates
• Vinyl and PVC
• Proprietary materials like Cyberskin, UR3, Futorotic, Fanta Flesh, Neoskin, FauxFlesh, etc. - these likely contain phthalates
• TPE, TPR, Elastomer, TPR-silicone, SEBS - phthalate-free in theory but porous and can harbor bacteria and fungi

What toy materials are safer?

• Silicone - 100% medical or food grade silicone is very body safe, non-porous, and phthalate-free. Avoid "silicone blend."
• 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

But they are so expensive!

I know, right? Here's a regularly updated list of non-toxic, body-safe sex toys that are $50 or less. Food grade silicone is as safe as medical grade silicone for sex toy use, and medical grade silicone toys tend to have a higher price tag.

References and Further Reading

• Dangerous Lilly - Sex Toy Educator and Reviewer
• Kara Sutra - Sex Educator and Toy Reviewer