Phthalates have been getting a lot of press lately. These nasty chemical agents are used to soften plastics to make them more flexible. Insidious phthalates are commonly found in plastic bottles, children’s toys and, believe it or not, in your sexual aids. Unfortunately for sexual device consumers, limited information is readily available about the unsavory ingredients hidden in your favorite pleasure enhancers.
We caught up with Eric Armour; owner of Trinity Romance Shop located in western Canada, to find out a bit more on what’s in our sexual devices and how we can find greener options.
What are phthalate free sex toys?
Phthalate (pronounced “thal-ate”)-free sex toys are as the name suggests, they are any toys that don’t contain phthalates, which are chemical agents that soften plastic to make it more flexible. Materials for toys that don’t contain phthalates are medical-grade silicone, surgical steel, anodized aluminum, glass, abs plastic, and properly finished wood.
Due to lack of government regulations it has forced our industry to be self regulated in terms of healthy, non-toxic products that are available in the marketplace.
Why are phthalates a problem?
The biggest problem with phthalates is the lack of regulations that surround them, and the biggest problem with phthalates in sex toys is that it’s not even discussed at regulatory level. In high concentration phthalates can be very toxic, and in animal tests they have caused liver, lung, kidney, testes' damage, and have been known to cause hormonal disruption. Without regulations as a consumer you don’t know what the concentration of phthalates in a given toy is, and you also don’t know what the cumulative effects of continued exposure to a product may be.
In the past we’ve ordered in a jelly toy known to contain phthalates, simply to check it out. What we noticed was that these toys literally have a sweaty glisten to them, are heavily perfumed, and given enough time in one spot actually start to decompose leaving behind a sweaty goo. Definitely not something you want in contact with any given orifice.
Why do you think people don't know about phthalates?
The sex toy industry is great in some aspects, and shameful in others. Traditionally our industry was one built around peoples fear and insecurities about the taboo subject of sex, which in and of itself is a reflection of societies negativity towards the topic.
The industry that evolved out of these negative attitudes was one that wasn’t necessarily concerned with the empowerment, and well being of its customers, but rather the bottom line. This lead to all kinds of cheap toys being made that are marked up extravagantly to a populous that may have been too shy to ask retailers the really important questions. This formula laid the economic groundwork for an entire industry that has no economic, or regulatory incentive to change. On the up side we’re starting to see a new generation of responsible, health conscious storefronts emerging that are more concerned with creating a sex-positive culture, and offering phthalate-free alternatives.
What are some of the other nasty ingredients in sex toys?
Sex toys aren’t necessarily full of nasty ingredients; it’s the phthalates that are in some of them that are. These phthalates are made up of a slew of industrial chemicals and solvents, and often will off-gas toxins over time.
Does using a condom with the sex toy help?
Condoms do not contain phthalates. If you have a jelly toy that you think may contain phthalates we recommend using it with a condom, or disposing of it and acquiring something you know is phthalate free.
What should people look for when shopping for sex toys?
The best advice we can give for the would-be sex toy customer with a green conscious would be to find a store you that suits your comforts, do a little research ahead of time, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whatever you may think may be weird, or wild, is most likely commonplace and the employee you’re dealing with has probably heard it all before, so no need to be shy. Secondly, look for reputable brands like Fun Factory, Tantus, or Lelo. These are companies that are producing phthalate-free toys with rechargeable options, and are using fair labor practices.
Are there now more eco options in the sex aid industry?
The sex toy industry definitely has some companies that are becoming more eco-friendly, and we’re starting to see more eco-options in terms of the materials used. Some examples of the more sustainable ones are wood, and glass. The latter being one we as a business shy away from due to the risks involved with it. In its place we usually recommend aeronautical aluminum, or stainless steel for a similar feel, while playing on the safe side.
Are sex aid consumers becoming better educated?
For the most part consumers know more today, and are more comfortable talking about sex than they were even 10 or 20 years ago. I think a lot of that can be attributed to the advent of the Internet. With the prevalence of sexual images, and information on the net it’s definitely normalized it somewhat. The counterpoint to this though is that there is a lot of bad information and images out there as well which makes discussing issues around sex and sexuality all the more important in today’s digital age.
Anything you would like to add?
If this article raises any questions feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it anytime, and we’ll do our best to get an answer to you as soon as we can. In the meantime have fun, and play safe.
Visit: http://www.trinityromance.com/
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written by RIo , June 23, 2009