Tools and Resources

• Take Action Kit: Phase out PVC/DEHP
• Alternatives to PVC and DEHP in Health Care
• Government Science Reports on Phthalates
• Harvard Study on DEHP Exposure in NICUs
• Policies and Resolutions to Reduce PVC/DEHP
• Join the List of Hospitals Phasing Out PVC and DEHP

Take Action Kit: Phase out PVC/DEHP

HCWH has developed these tools to help health care workers take action to reduce PVC and DEHP. Get started on phasing out PVC and DEHP products in health care with help from these key tools and resources.

Fact Sheets

• DEHP Exposures During the Medical Care of Infants: A Cause for Concern, Pub 3-6 (pdf)
• A Summary of the FDA Safety Assessment of DEHP Released from PVC Medical Devices, Pub 3-8 (pdf)
• The Weight of the Evidence on DEHP: Exposures Are a Cause for Concern, Especially During Medical Care, Pub 3-11 (pdf)
• Why Health Care is Moving Away From the Hazardous Plastic Polyvinyl Chloride, Pub 3-19 (pdf)
• PVC Medical Devices Containing DEHP: Guidelines for an Audit, Pub 3-13 (pdf)

Alternatives to PVC and DEHP in Health Care

• Medical Devices (pdf)
• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (pdf)
• Building Materials for Health Care (pdf)

Government Science Reports on Phthalates

• In 2006, the U.S. National Toxicology Program Expert Panel re-affirmed that the phthalate DEHP poses a risk to human development and fertility (pdf)
• Previous reports by the NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction warned about the health risks associated with DEHP.
• In September 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration conducted a Safety Assessment of DEHP Released from PVC Medical Devices and concluded that some patients may be at risk of harm from DEHP leaching from PVC medical devices (pdf)
• In July 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues a Public Health Notification on DEHP warning health care providers to reduce DEHP exposure for certain vulnerable populations, including infants and other patients receiving multiple medical treatments.
• The European Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern includes DEHP as a reproductive toxicant. See the support document on the toxicity of DEHP for more information (pdf)
• In January 2002, a Health Canada Expert Advisory Panel on DEHP in Medical Devices advised that immediate action be taken to protect pregnant women, sick infants and other vulnerable patients from DEHP exposure via PVC medical devices (pdf)
• In January 2003, the National Chemicals Inspectorate of Sweden (KEMI) issued a DEHP Risk Reduction Strategy (pdf)
• Since 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been conducting a national biomonitoring study to measure the levels of toxic chemicals (including DEHP) found in the blood and urine of a cross-section of the American population, see the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (pdf)

Harvard Study on DEHP Exposure in NICUs

2005 study from Harvard School of Public Health finds that sick infants treated in Neonatal Intensive Care Units are exposed to high levels of the toxic phthalate DEHP.

• Read the study
• Health Care Without Harm's press release
• Audio recording of press briefing with study's authors (requires RealPlayer)

Policies and Resolutions to Reduce PVC/DEHP

Several major medical and nursing professional associations have expressed concern about the health risks associated with PVC medical devices, including:

• American Nurses Association Resolution on Nurses Role in Product Selection for Patient and Environmental Advocacy - 6/01 (pdf)
• American Medical Association Resolution on DEHP Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units - 12/01 (pdf)
• American Public Health Association Resolution on Prevention of Dioxin Generation from PVC Plastic - 11/96 (pdf)
• California Association of Neonatologists Statement on PVC and DEHP Use in the Care of Neonates - 11/01 (pdf)

See more resolutions by medical associations, cities and states, religious organizations and manufacturer statements.

Join the Growing List of Hospitals Phasing Out PVC and DEHP

• Sign the List of Health Care Leaders (pdf) that are Reducing Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). To add the name of your institution to this list of health care leaders promoting healthier purchasing choices, please contact info@hcwh.org
• Also see Case Studies