Are there health concerns about plastic children’s products with more than 1 per cent DEHP?

The main health concern associated with DEHP is that animal studies have shown that high regular doses can affect the reproductive system in developing young, particularly males. 

The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) found :

• no significant risks of this to the general population
• possible risks to young children who may experience higher exposures to DEHP than the general population if they chew or suck on toys or products containing high levels of DEHP on a regular basis for sustained for periods of 40 minutes or longer.

As a result of this, certain children’s products containing more than 1 per cent by weight DEHP are banned in Australia and overseas.

Studies by NICNAS and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MOCA) found that very few plastic children’s products in the Australian market contain more than 1 per cent by weight DEHP.