Abstract
Polymeric materials play a key role in the production of medical and clinical devices thanks to their special features such as flexibility, easy processing and good price/performance ratio. Among the different polymeric matrixes, one of the most used is Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). At room temperature PVC is hard and brittle, thus great amounts (40- 50%) of phthalate esters that act as plasticizers are added to the polymer to make it flexible and appropriate for medical use. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used plasticizer in PVC medical devices. However, DEHP is not chemically bound to PVC and migrates from medical devices with time and use. The potential for DEHP to produce adverse effects in humans has been the subject of considerable discussion and debate in the scientific community. In particular, newborns in the new environment have to be considered at particularly increased risk, because of their small body size and the multiple medical device-related to the DEHP exposure. The major factors determining the degree to which DEHP migrates from medical devices are temperature, amount of DEHP in the device, storage time, shaking of the device while in contact with the medical solutions and degree of PVC degradation. The Aim of this review is to present an updated outline of recent ongoing research in the field of PVC degradation and consequent release of phthalates by highlighting their impact on human health, focusing on neonatal exposure.
Keywords: Medical devices, Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, polyvinyl chloride, newborns
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Materials Degradation in PVC Medical Devices, DEHP Leaching and Neonatal Outcomes
Volume: 17 Issue: 26
Author(s): G. Latini, M. Ferri and F. Chiellini
Affiliation:
Keywords: Medical devices, Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, polyvinyl chloride, newborns
Abstract: Polymeric materials play a key role in the production of medical and clinical devices thanks to their special features such as flexibility, easy processing and good price/performance ratio. Among the different polymeric matrixes, one of the most used is Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). At room temperature PVC is hard and brittle, thus great amounts (40- 50%) of phthalate esters that act as plasticizers are added to the polymer to make it flexible and appropriate for medical use. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is the most widely used plasticizer in PVC medical devices. However, DEHP is not chemically bound to PVC and migrates from medical devices with time and use. The potential for DEHP to produce adverse effects in humans has been the subject of considerable discussion and debate in the scientific community. In particular, newborns in the new environment have to be considered at particularly increased risk, because of their small body size and the multiple medical device-related to the DEHP exposure. The major factors determining the degree to which DEHP migrates from medical devices are temperature, amount of DEHP in the device, storage time, shaking of the device while in contact with the medical solutions and degree of PVC degradation. The Aim of this review is to present an updated outline of recent ongoing research in the field of PVC degradation and consequent release of phthalates by highlighting their impact on human health, focusing on neonatal exposure.
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Cite this article as:
Latini G., Ferri M. and Chiellini F., Materials Degradation in PVC Medical Devices, DEHP Leaching and Neonatal Outcomes, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2010; 17 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986710792064992
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986710792064992 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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