Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel CHAP

In the United States, risk assessment was mainly directed toward the effect of phthalates when used in toys and care articles for children. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) convened a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP), as recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The CHAP report presented in July 2014 (CHAP, 2014) confirmed the permanent ban of the phthalates DBP, BBP, and DEHP for children s products. It also recommends that DIBP, DPENP, DHEXP and DCHP be permanently banned from use in children s toys and child care articles at levels greater than 0.1%. The interim ban for DINP (>0.1%) was made permanent. An interim ban is put on DIOP. The interim ban on DNOP and DIDP was lifted, however, and additional risk assessments were recommended. No action needs to be taken for DMP and DEP, but additional risk assessments are recommended. No recommendation has been made regarding DPHP due to the lack of information. 

The CPSIA required feat fee risks associated wife the use of DINP, DIDP, and DnOP be evaluated by a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) this panel was also charged to evaluate the risks from nonphthalate alternative plasticizers that are presently being used in toys. The CPSIA restrictions in the use of DINP and DIDP in toys occurred in spite of very favorable and positive outcomes from very extensive, multi-year studies by various government agencies around fee world. It is important to note feat before the US Congress passed the CPSIA, they did not conduct a scientific review of these products and ignored fee CPSC s June 2001 CHAP report, which concluded feat DINP in consumer products did not present a significant health concern for children or adults. 

The CPSC recommended further study and convened a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) to review the body of scientific data available for phthalates. The CHAP report, issued in 2001, found minimal to non-existent risk of injury for the majority of children." The report added that there might be a risk to children who mouthed DINP-plasticized soft PVC toys for 75 minutes a day or more, day after day, for extended periods of time. In September 2002, after five years of study, the CPSC issued a report concluding that children who mouthed DINP-plasticized toys face no demonstrated health risk and denied the petition calling for the ban of vinyl in toys. Furthermore, the CPSC stated that If DINP is to be replaced in children s products, the potential risks of the substitutes must be considered. Weaker or more brittle plastics might break and result in a choking hazard. Other plasticizers might not be studied as weU as DINP. °... 

CHAP, 2014. Report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission by the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel On Phthalates And Phthalate Alternatives. Available from http //www. cpsc.gov/PageFiles/169902/CHAP-REPORT-With-Appendices.pdf (accessed 10.11.14). 

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