STOCKHOLM, Sweden—While many sex toy manufacturers claim that their products are free from phthalates, Swedish officials are starting to inspect adult items a little more vigorously.
According to TheLocal.se, while phthalates are banned from children’s toys—much like the are in the U.S.—the world of adult toys are not regulated, and therefore Swedish officials want to study the effects they might have on those who routinely use dildos and vibrators with the substances.
Phthalates are used in a variety of items—water bottles, PVC pipes and more—to help make plastics softer and more flexible.
"What we know about these chemicals is that they have strong reproduction inhibiting effects but it is not known how people are affected by using sex toys that contain the chemicals," Anna Löfström, environmental inspector with Malmö city, told the TT news agency.
Officials were prompted to begin the inspections, they said, after discovering that some adult toys contain phthalates.
