PVC: Polyvinyl chloride (plastics identified with a #3, or V). Until recently, PVC was commonly used to make bath toys, teething rings and bath books. Due to PVCs hard, brittle nature, manufacturers often add a chemical called “phthalates” to soften the material.

Phthalates: Chemical compounds often used as plasticizers, or softeners to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard to flexible plastic. “Both the toy industry and the CPSC say that phthalates in toys do not put children at risk, but skeptics counter that children’s mouthing behaviors make them uniquely vulnerable to harm from these chemicals. The European Union, the state of California, and the city of San Francisco have banned 6 phthalates from toys largely on a precautionary basis.”

Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol.116, Number 2, February 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA): A building block for polycarbonate plastic used in shatter-resistant baby bottles. BPA may cause negative health effects as it leaches from polycarbonate plastic under certain conditions. Leaching may be greater in polycarbonate that is scratched, cloudy or exhibits other signs of wear.