US EPA

2215480 

Journal Article 

Review 

Perspectives on alternatives to phthalate plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) in medical devices applications 

Chiellini, F; Ferri, M; Morelli, A; Dipaola, L; Latini, G 

2013 

1 

Progress in Polymer Science
ISSN: 0079-6700 

Elsevier Ltd 

OXFORD 

38 

7 

1067-1088 

English 

10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2013.03.001 

WOS:000321408000004 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S007967001300018X
Exit
 

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the most important polymeric materials available today and is used to manufacture many items, ranging from packaging and toys to healthcare devices. PVC is per sea rigid material but it is made softer by compounding with plasticizers, particularly phthalate esters such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). In flexible plasticizer PVC (P-PVC), phthalates are not chemically bound to PVC and they are released into the external environment. In particular, prolonged contact of P-PVC based medical devices with body fluids or tissues has been shown to be associated with severe health risks. Major concerns regarding the safety of P-PVC in medical plastic items have been raised, and several alternatives to phthalates and to P-PVC itself as well as chemical/physical treatments of P-PVC to reduce DEHP migration have been proposed.



This review outlines recent scientific approaches for preventing DEHP contamination of humans by P-PVC medical devices, highlighting the impact of the proposed alternative materials on human health and strategies for implementing them. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Poly(vinyl chloride); Phthalates; Plasticizers; Medical devices