The reality of the reproductive effects caused by phthalates at today’s exposure levels highlights the urgent need to eliminate the plasticizers from products. Addressing two types of products containing phthalates—PVC and cosmetics—would have a major impact in reducing exposure.

A number of companies, hospitals, and government agencies have taken steps to switch to alternative materials and phase out PVC use. Microsoft, for example, has now completely ended the use of PVC in its packaging material, and Kaiser Permanente has pledged to reduce PVC wherever possible in new construction. The health care provider has also worked with vendors to develop PVC-free carpeting and wall coverings. Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland has eliminated most PVC products from its neonatal intensive care unit, as has the Special Care Nursery at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle. Seattle and Olympia have both passed resolutions committing them to seeking alternatives to PVC for city operations.

Based on existing evidence, the European Union passed legislation banning some phthalates in cosmetics in 2003, and has kept three phthalates out of toys since 1999. Although many uses of phthalates are essentially ungoverned in the United States, cosmetic and medical uses are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has not taken steps to ban phthalates. It has, however, urged medical providers to switch to alternative products that do not contain phthalates. Cosmetics companies, on the other hand, have taken action on their own: Revlon, L’Oreal, and other major companies are phasing phthalates out of nail polish. Three hundred companies, including The Body Shop and Burt’s Bees, have pledged to eliminate phthalates from their products in response to requests from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.