Dangerous chemicals in products and buildings risk ending up in the environment, and may be absorbed by plants, animals and humans. Environmental levels of many substances are too high and are causing problems for people and the environment. A few per cent of the population, for example, have high concentrations of cadmium in their kidneys, and PCBs and brominated flame retardants can be found in breast milk. Endocrine disruptors are suspected of causing common diseases. In some places, such as old factory and petrol station sites, soils are heavily contaminated.

Levels of many well-known toxic pollutants in the environment, such as DDT, PCBs and some brominated flame retardants, have fallen. Levels of highly fluorinated substances have increased and contaminated drinking water.

INTRODUCTION

Medical devices are an essential feature of modern healthcare, playing an important role in prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases and disabilities. Hazardous chemicals are often present in medical devices to improve plastic performance e.g. plasticisers, flame-retardants, fillers, colourings, impact modifiers, and stabilisers. These harmful chemicals can represent a high percentage of the final product (in some case up to 80%) and
can leach out of products and have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Concerns regarding hazardous chemical exposure through medical devices are particularly relevant to groups of vulnerable patients that undergo multiple medical interventions or are exposed chronically over extended periods, including infants in neonatal care or dialysis patients. Substances that are commonly found in medical devices and are of particular concern are phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA). These substances have been the subject of intense political debate in recent years due to their widespread use in consumer products and the risks they pose to human health and the environment. The endocrine-disrupting properties of these chemicals are also well established.

#Medical devices

#modern healthcare

#non-toxic material

#ISBC