Soft Touch

Many of us have probably never heard of phthalates, writes SALLY JACOBS.

Fresh Startup

Q and A Q: Does PVC clothing give you cancer? A: It could. PVC needs a plasticiser to make it soft and flexible. The most common one is a phthalate called DEHP: a suspected carcinogen. Phthalates make up to 50 per cent of some PVC fabrics. You probably can't get cancer just by wearing PVC.

Toxic Toys Hazardous

GREENPEACE recently held a toxic toy patrol through Toys R Us stores in Sydney and Melbourne to highlight the hazardous PVC toys on the stores' shelves. The problem with PVC, polyvinyl chloride, is that it is softened by chemicals called phthalates which give items like raincoats their distincti

Greenpeace Signals Poison Protest

In a flap ... Greenpeace struck again yesterday at Homebush Bay, claiming ICI Australia - which closed its factory there in February - had made no commitment to remove "gender-bending" phthalates and heavy metals from the bay. Last night ICI called the action a "stunt" and said i