Phthalates. That\u2019s the evil word you don\u2019t want to hear paired together with the word \u2018sex toys.\u2019 Toxic toys contain PVC plastics with phthalates (also known as plasticizers) added to make them softer and more difficult to break. Imagine this: You have a PVC toys, then you add phthalates; these phthalates attach to the PVC at a molecular level and hang on to them. This changes their structure to make them softer and jelly-like. The problem here is that the phthalates aren\u2019t \u2018bound\u2019 very strong to the PVC and often seep out over time. If a toxic toy is out for long enough, you\u2019ll see it \u2018sweat\u2019 out its plasticizer; this is the stuff you want to avoid in your body.<\/span><\/p>\n Well, consider the following. The US government has done research on phthalates in children\u2019s toys. Although the government did not find much on phthalates, they did link them to negative health effects such as irritation, reproduction issues, infantile development problems, and even cancer. With this information, the government decided to ban phthalates in children\u2019s toys in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing to watch out for in sex toys are pores. Pores are small holes or crevices in which bacteria can hide in. Porous toys can never truly be cleaned or sterilized. Even when porous toys are washed with warm soap and water, bacteria can stay hidden in these pores and multiply. Using them are dangerous since bacteria can be reintroduced into the body. A safe toy has to have the ability of being sterilized.<\/p>\n[box type=”success”] There is an exception in porous toys. Some male masturbators such as those made by Tenga and Fleshlight are very porous. Since they aren’t made to be used internally, they are safe for external use. Note: because they are still porous, they aren’t made to last a lifetime [hr]\n Oh, but if it were only that easy. Just because a toy is labeled as \u2018phthalate-free\u2019 does not mean that it is actually free of phthalates. Believe it or not, people (especially manufacturers) lie often. The fact that this industry isn\u2019t regulated makes it much more easier to lie. Without regulation, all manufacturers have to do is label toys as “for novelty use only.” Novelty use means not meant for insertion or bodily use.<\/span><\/p>\n Shame is the other factor that will continue the sale of toxic toys. There aren’t many people who will discuss sex toys in public or with their friends. Anyone who tries to author a bill to ban phthalates in toys; well, it\u2019ll be very difficult since many people are scared of discussing this in public. With no government intervention, it seems that manufacturers will continue to sell phthalate-riddled toys.<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t mean that you have to avoid every sex toy. There are certain ways to tell if it is toxic:<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the toys you should \u00a0get are those that are made from safe materials. Some of the safe materials are:<\/span><\/p>\nWhy do I want to avoid phthalates?<\/span><\/h4>\n
Porosity<\/h3>\n
A label doesn’t make it true<\/span><\/h3>\n
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