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Public Health
Expert opinion

Safety of medical devices containing DEHP-plasticized PVC or other plasticizers on neonates and other groups possibly at risk (2015 update)

Final Opinion

Description

SCENIHR WG on DEHP
SCENIHR members: Philippe Hartemann, Eduard Rodríguez-Farré, Emanuela Testai (Rapporteur)
SCCS members: Suresh Rastogi, Ulrike Bernauer
External experts: Wim De Jong, Hans Gulliksson, Aldert H. Piersma, G. Latini, Richard Sharpe, Dirk Schubert
Contact: SANCO-C2-SCENIHRatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (SANCO-C2-SCENIHR[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
On request from: European Commission
Doi: 10.2772/45179
Adopted on: 25 June 2015

Content of the opinion:

The main focus of this Opinion, which is an update of the 2008 SCENIHR Opinion, is on the potential risk for patients exposed to DEHP or similar plasticising compounds leaching from medical devices. Exposure of the general population to plasticizers has also been addressed. The assessment also includes information on currently available plasticizers as well as some proposed alternatives to DEHP in medical devices for neonates and for other patient groups.

Use of PVC medical devices may lead to a higher exposure to DEHP compared to everyday sources affecting the general population. Examples of medical procedures with a potential for high exposure to DEHP are multiple procedures in preterm neonates, haemodialysis, heart transplantation or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, massive blood transfusion of red blood cells and plasma or peritoneal dialysis. The Opinion also focuses on these sorts of clinical procedures that result in high DEHP exposure.

Based on the available scientific evidence, SCENIHR considers that adult patients undergoing haemodialysis have the highest exposure, due to the chronic nature of the treatment. Children are potentially at higher risk, particularly neonates and infants due to their low body weight are particularly prone to high level of exposure on a body weight basis. There is evidence suggesting that DEHP causes the most severe reproductive toxicity in animal studies, when compared to other alternative plasticizers. There is therefore a strong need to develop and collect data on exposure of alternative materials in the actual conditions of use in order to refine the knowledge on their toxicological profile. The possibility of replacing DEHP with these products could then be considered, taking account the efficacy of the treatment as well as the toxicological profile and leaching properties of the alternative materials.

Keywords:

SCENIHR, scientific opinion, DEHP, phthalates, medical devices, neonates, alternative plasticizers, health risks

Opinion to be cited as:

SCENIHR (Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly-Identified Health Risks), Scientific Opinion on the safety of medical devices containing DEHP-plasticized PVC or other plasticizers on neonates and other groups possibly at risk. 2015.

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1 DECEMBER 2021
scenihr_o_047.pdf
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