Plastics 2: Adipates and Phthalates

Smile you silly pup!
Originally uploaded by something.from.nancy

Monomers are small chemical units that make up the conglomerate we call plastic.  Sometimes extra monomers are added to plastic that create unique functional characteristics.

Plasticizers are monomers which impart flexibility by interspersing around the polymer chains, preventing the creation of a tight bond. Without them, plastic is rigid and difficult to shape or mold.  Because plasticizers are basically lone agents and not tightly bonded to the structure, they can spin off the chain easily. With the addition of heat or friction (sometimes called “use”) these small units end up in the plastic’s immediate environment. This could be the ocean, your micro-waved lunch, or the water you drink. (this is, of course, a shortened list of possible transfer sites in our everyday lives!)

Two major families of plasticizers are the adipates and phthalates.  Adipates and phthalates do much of their damage through a process called “endocrine/ hormone disruption”. By mimicking or blocking natural hormones they disrupt the body’s normal functioning.  Because endocrine disruptors affect development of the body’s vital organ and hormone systems, infants, children, fetuses, kittens, and puppies are more vulnerable to exposure than fully formed adults. Some experts have implicated these hormone disruptions in our increased incidents of cancer, especially breast cancer.

Canada, most of Europe, and some major cities in the US ban the use of phthalates and other known hormone disrupters in the manufacturing of baby toys, teething rings, and baby bottles. The main types of plastics banned from these uses are:  Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which contains toxic monomers along with the plasticizers that make it pliable, and Bisphenol A (BPA) found in many polycarbonate plastics. BPA is found in plastic labeled as microwavable, lining beverage cans, and in baby bottles—to name just a few sources in your everyday life.

Why is this important for pet parents? Unfortunately a plastic toy squeaks almost always because it contains lots of plasticizers-- otherwise it would be rigid and non squeakable.  This is compounded by a puppy’s toothy warm mouth which provides warmth and friction. Here is one scenario on what can happen when a chew-happy puppy or cat plays with one of their colorful soft squeaky plastic pet toys.  (Also, for goodness sakes don’t wash your pets’ plastic toys in a hot soapy washing machine. Remember: friction, heat, UV light, and age are what sets free the little monomer units.)

Basically if it is flexible and made of plastic it is full of hormone disruptive plasticizers. This is simply a fact. Hormone disruption and health do not go together.  More on Hormone disruption in our next entry.

For additional and more specific info on plastics and your pets see (http://www.purrfectplay.com/newsletter-06-11.php) The links at the end are useful and... depressing. 

Comments

[Pam Wheelock]

Thank you for your informative comment Dr. Bittner. I believe most "synthetics" are, at best, problematic. Compounds "invented" by humans may not mesh with our natural world because they lack "fuzzy logic" integrity with other biological components/processes that make up the "life" of the planet. Simply put-- they don't fit mother nature's plan.

[Attaphon]

You and your readers have well-justified concerns about the estrogenic activity (EA) released from plastics that have been know to cause adverse health problems. While estrogens (the female sex hormones) occur naturally in the body, many scientific studies have shown that significant health problems can occur when chemicals are ingested that mimic or block the actions of these female sex hormones; the fetus, newborn, or young child is especially vulnerable. These health-related problems (some of which you mentioned in your article) include early puberty in females, reduced sperm counts in males, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity, altered behaviors, and increased rates of some breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers.However, avoiding plastics that contain BPA or phthalates (or VNC plastics) does not mean that you safe from ingesting chemicals in plastics that have EA. BPA and phthalates are just two of several thousand chemicals that exhibit EA. These chemicals leach from almost all plastics sold today, including some of the safer plastics you mentioned polyethylene (HDPE or LDPE), polypropylene and PET. That is, plastics advertised as BPA-free or phthalate-free are not EA-free; almost all these plastics still leach chemicals having EA and often have more total EA than plastics that release BPA or phthalates. Various plastics manufacturers are attempting to solve this problem by removing chemicals having EA (e.g., BPA, phthalates) one at a time. This approach is not an appropriate solution because hundreds of chemicals used in plastics exhibit EA, not just BPA and phthalates. This is a marketing-driven solution, not a health-driven solution. The appropriate health-driven solution is to manufacture safer plastics that are EA-free. This is not a pie-in-the-sky solution, as the technology already exists to produce EA-free plastics that also have the same advantageous physical properties. In fact, some of these advanced-technology EA-free plastics are already in the marketplace and many more EA-Free plastic items could be commercially available quickly -- if consumers were to demand them.George D. Bittner, PhDProfessor of Biology,The University of Texas at AustinFounder: CertiChem, PlastiPure

[Pam Wheelock]

As time goes on and as I read/learn more about plastics, I am convinced that the hormone disruption of these substances are changing our planet in sad and scary ways.

[Pam Wheelock]

The sea of plastic is getting scary-- essentially plastic is forever, in one form or another. Here is a great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM&feature=related

[kwolek21]

I just watched a news report. It said 90% of ocean garbage is non biodegradable plastics. Ugh, but on the sunny side, thank you Purrfectplay for organic toys.

[Yvette]

We don;t see many cat toys out there. I was happy to see you carry cat toys.
Yvettewithdt

[Hannah]

Wow, very interesting. Will definitely let my fellow animal lovers know about this.
@soulhorse

[Beth Warren]

Thanks for the information, it was very helpful.

[Marci J]

I had no idea - thank you for providing this information. I'm aware of the dangers of plastics for humans, but never thought of it for dogs until now. I'm going to take heed from now on.

[Kelly Ann T.]

I don't buy plastic or vinyl toys. The toys that I do buy are made here in the USA. I even make most of my own dog bones.