1 Introduction

Identification and assessment of alternatives to selected phthalates

Besides collection of information from the literature basic information has been collected from three major groups of data sources:

Manufacturers and suppliers of toys and childcare articles
In cooperation with the Nordic Association of Toy Manufacturers, manufacturers of toys and childcare articles in Denmark was identified and contacted by e-mail and telephone in order to collect information on applied plasticisers. This survey was supplemented with enquiries to major importers of toys in Denmark identified via the Internet and business databases.
Manufacturers of alternative plasticisers and materials
Manufacturers of alternative plasticisers and materials were indentified via the Internet and the literature. Information on technical properties and the substances’ ability to substitute for the phthalates concerned, the price in comparison to the phthalates and the human and environmental properties were collected by direct queries to the manufacturers, by use of email or/and telephone interview.
Databases
A number of databases were consulted in order to collect information on physico-chemical properties and human health and environmental effects of selected substances. Data has been searched for in among others the European Chemical Substances Information System database (ESIS), OECD's e-ChemPortal, CHEM ID, IPCS InChem database, SRC Chemfate, HSDB, IRIS, CCRIS, TOXLINE, NTP – National Toxicology Program, Chemical Health & Safety Data, ECOTOX and RTECS.

Contacted companies and organisations are listed in Annex 1