Consumer Product Testing

Toronto, Ontario, August 11, 2023

In July, Health Canada announced the recall of hundreds of baby dolls made of vinyl due to chemical exposure concerns. The five-inch dolls, imported from China, were sold throughout Canada from September of 2022 to June of this year.

Health Canada’s sampling and evaluation program determined that these toys did not meet the requirements of the country’s Phthalates Regulations because the dolls contain DEHP above the allowable limits. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the dolls and to dispose of them or return them to the store of purchase for a full refund.

DEHP is a manufactured chemical that is commonly added to plastics to make them flexible. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports DEHP is present in many plastics, especially vinyl materials. ATSDR also states it may be present in plastic wall coverings, tablecloths, floor tiles, furniture upholstery, shower curtains, garden hoses, swimming pool liners, rainwear, some toys, shoes, automobile upholstery and tops, packaging film and sheets, sheathing for wire and cable, medical tubing, and blood storage bags.

“DEHP and a number of other phthalates are believed to act as endocrine disruptors in humans,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This is why DEHP is regulated in many countries, including the United States and Canada. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 prohibits the use of DEHP in children’s toys at concentrations higher than 0.1 percent in the United States. In California, DEHP has been classified as a chemical known to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm under the terms of Proposition 65.”

Dedicated to helping manufacturers, importers, retailers, regulatory agencies, and health advocates test for phthalates and other regulated chemicals from consumer products are the scientists at EMSL Analytical, Inc. These tests not only protect consumers, but they can also be essential for helping companies comply with health and safety regulations to avoid costly product recalls.

To learn more about phthalates or other consumer product, material, environmental, health or safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.
 

About EMSL Canada, Inc.

EMSL Canada is an internationally recognized provider of environmental, indoor air quality, and materials testing services and products to professionals and the public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as provincial regulating bodies.