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"They [phthalates] are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). " [1] PVC is used in water pipes, bottles, packaging films, blister packs, cling wrap
by krunck 2y ago
"They [phthalates] are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). " [1]
PVC is used in water pipes, bottles, packaging films, blister packs, cling wraps, and seals on metal lids.[2]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride#Applications https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride#Application...
- CodeWriter23 2y agoAlso quite commonly used as a fragrance enhancer.
- jackyinger 2y agoThat’s horrifying. But thanks for pointing that out, now I’ve got a real reason to dislike artificial odors (“air fresheners”)
- MichaelZuo 2y agoPVC is also commonly used in 3D printing, with very pungent fumes.
- Filligree 2y agoProfessional 3D printing, perhaps. I imagine it's a common engineering plastic. Home 3D printing fortunately uses mostly PLA, which is biodegradable. Though I'm unsure how degradable it'd be inside your lungs.
- afh1 2y ago>PVC water pipes This is the most relevant one IMO. You can buy glass cups and jars, it doesn't matter if the water you put into them comes through PVC pipes! Even if you buy BPA-free phthalate-free bottled water, I think it's safe to assume that at one point that water went through several meters of PVC pipes to get to that bottle! PVC water pipes must be ubiquitous nowadays, and are certainly better than the older copper alternative, which in turn is better than the older lead alternative! Maybe the next step is special PVC for water piping. Until then I guess we're better than we have ever been, water piping-wise.
- mrob 2y agoWater pipes are made from rigid, unplasticized PVC. It's only flexible PVC (e.g. cable insulation) that contains plasticizers.
- afh1 2y agoWell, great, then!
- morpheos137 2y agoYeah as long as you're not chewing or extension cords you should be good. The most common water pipe in new construction is cross linked polyethylene. XLPE. It is stable, inert, and contains no plasticizers. PVC is often used for sewage drain pipes. Like the parent said it is the rigid crystalline kind typically containing minimal plasticizers tightly bound within the crystal matrix.
- hedgehog 2y agoIt depends. Leaching from cold water passing through a pipe for a few seconds is a lot different from a water bottle that might be in a backpack or warm car most of a day.
- hammock 2y agoJust about any kind of flexible or soft-ish plastic you encounter as a consumer that is not PET (soda bottles, plastic bags, polyester) is going to have phthalates in it.