Consumer Product Safety Commission Names Phthalate Advisory Panel Members

Phthalates are big. Well, at least from a public health policy perspective. These chemicals are the most commonly used plasticizers worldwide, being used to soften PVC and other products. One of the biggest concerns by regulators and activists is the use of phthalates in toys. A few days ago the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the United States appointed seven independent scientists to serve on a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) to assess the potential health risks from exposure to phthalates and phthalate substitutes.

The CHAP is required under the provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, signed into law by then-President George W. Bush in 2008. The specific charge of the CHAP is to examine the potential effects on children's health of phthalates and any alternatives to phthalates as used in children's toys and child care articles.

The seven scientists appointed from a list nominated by the President of the National Academy of Sciences are:

Chris Gennings, Ph.D.
Medical College of Virginia

Russell Hauser, M.D., Sc.D., M.P.H.
Harvard School of Public Health

Holger M. Koch, Ph.D.
Ruhum University of Bochum, Germany

Andreas Kortenkamp, Ph.D.
University of London

Paul J. Lioy, Ph.D.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Philip E. Mirkes, Ph.D.
Washington State University, Vancouver

Bernard A. Schwetz, D.V.M., Ph.D.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (retired)