Flexible Vinyl Medical Products: Discussion about the Extraction Characteristics of Various Plasticizers

摘要

The use of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for toys and medical devices has been under attack from various environmental and health care activist groups. Their concerns are related to, that under certain conditions small amounts of the plasticizer may leave the flexible PVC compound (an act referred to as leaching, migrating, or extraction). This extracted plasticizer can then enter the human body and then, allegedly, cause damage ranging from cancer to hormone disruption. The plasticizer under the most scrutiny is di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, commonly known as DEHP or DOP. DEHP is the largest volume plasticizer in use worldwide and the most widely used plasticizer for PVC medical devices. This paper will not address the relative toxicity of plasticizers but will look at the various mechanisms under which plasticizers leave the flexible PVC medical devices. To accomplish this we will review available information, from Hatco Corp., Morflex, Inc. and BP Amoco, on the migration and extraction characteristics of various plasticizers, including DEHP, TOTM, Citrates and Adipates. Discussing potential selection criteria based on plasticizer permanence.