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)[1]
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
| Name | Abbreviation | Alcohol carbon number | wikipedia:Molecular weight (g/mol) | CAS No. | Properties of concern for human health (wikipedia:ECHA classification 2022)[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wikipedia:Dimethyl phthalate | DMP | 1 | 194.18 | 131-11-3 | |
| wikipedia: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 | |
| wikipedia:Di-n-butyl phthalate | DBP | 4 | 278.34 | 84-74-2 | Toxic to Reproduction, Endocrine Disrupting, Under assessment as PBT |
| wikipedia: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 |
| wikipedia: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 |
| wikipedia:Diisoheptyl phthalate | DIHpP | 7 | 362.5 | 41451-28-9 | Toxic to Reproduction |
| Butyl decyl phthalate | BDP | 4 – 10 | 362.5 | 89-19-0 | |
| wikipedia:Dibutoxy ethyl phthalate | DBEP | 6 | 366.45 | 117-83-9 | |
| wikipedia: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 | |
| wikipedia: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 |
| wikipedia: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)[3]
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[4]
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
Citations
- ↑ "Sex toy safety guide". reddit.com. u/TheSoftessMoss. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ↑ "Search for Chemicals - ECHA". echa.europa.eu. European Chemicals Agency. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
Enter CAS No's to validate manually
- ↑ "Common Phthalates". en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia Foundation. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ↑ "Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in sex toys". web.archive.org. Danish Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 9 January 2022.