BEWARE OF DEHP !

Think going to the hospital is safe for you? Think again. Some of the medical equipment may not be safe for use! Here’s why…

DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is a colorless, oily liquid that is soluble in the bodies proteins. It is artificially produced through a chemical process in the presence of an acid catalyst (4).  Usually it is used as a softening agent in plastics and is found in children’s toys, plastic bags, telephone cords and medical tubing as well as medical devices. Sometimes it can even be added into certain cosmetics like shampoo, hairspray and nail polish. (2)

So how is this dangerous for you when you are seeing your doctor? It could be carcinogenic to humans however this has not been proven yet. It is controversial because DEHP has been shown to leach out of plastics. Despite this, it does make medical devices easier to use, it causes less damage and is more comfortable for the patient. (5)

Is this really going to affect you? Maybe. However, only children under the age of three lack the elimination methods to get rid of DEHP from their bodies. (3)

What’s the solution? There are alternatives to using DEHP as a softening agent. The toxic dosages of the alternatives have  a much higher toxic dose than DEHP so more of the chemical is needed to actually do any harm. (1)

So next time you go to the doctor and are hooked up to a IV, dialysis machine, or any other medical device, remember that while you may be getting treatment for something else plasticizer may be leaching into your blood stream at the same time.

 References:

Dan Bolton. (2013). Suppliers going DEHP-free, its easier than you think... Retrieved 03/02, 2015, from https://practicegreenhealth.org/sites/default/files/upload-files/eastman1306221pghwebinar.pdf (1)

Mangipudy, R. S., & Mehendale, H. M. (2005). DEHP (di-ethyl hexyl phthalate). In P. Wexler (Ed.), Encyclopedia of toxicology (second edition) (pp. 733-734). New York: Elsevier. doi:http://library.mtroyal.ca:2075/10.1016/B0-12-369400-0/00296-9 (2)

Strauss, A. A. (2004). Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics : JPPT : The Official Journal of PPAG, 9(2), 89. (3)

Toxicological profile for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (1993). . United States: (4)

Wilkinson, E. (2014, Warning over plastics used in treating premature babies. BBC News, pp. 1.(5)