Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks
Abstract A majority of American adults report having used sex toys, which, by design, interact with intimate and permeable body parts yet have not been subject to sufficient risk assessment or management. Physical and chemical data are presented examining potential risks associated with four types o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00054-6 |
| _version_ | 1797860039797506048 |
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| author | Joana Marie Sipe Jaleesia D. Amos Robert F. Swarthout Amalia Turner Mark R. Wiesner Christine Ogilvie Hendren |
| author_facet | Joana Marie Sipe Jaleesia D. Amos Robert F. Swarthout Amalia Turner Mark R. Wiesner Christine Ogilvie Hendren |
| author_sort | Joana Marie Sipe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A majority of American adults report having used sex toys, which, by design, interact with intimate and permeable body parts yet have not been subject to sufficient risk assessment or management. Physical and chemical data are presented examining potential risks associated with four types of currently available sex toys: anal toy, beads, dual vibrator, and external vibrator. A standardized abrasion machine made real-time breakdown of products into microplastics and nanoplastics. The microplastics from the sex toys were then solvent extracted and analyzed using GC–MS. Rates of microplastics and nanoplastics released during abrasion testing from most microplastic release to least was the anal toy, beads, dual vibrator, external vibrator. Both micro- and nanoplastics particles were generated following the abrasion test, with the 50 percentile diameters (D50) ranging from the anal beads at 658.5 μm, dual vibrator at 887.83 μm, anal toy at 950 μm, and external vibrator at 1673.33 μm. The material matrix of each product was analyzed using ATR-FTIR, with results identifying the anal toy as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the anal beads as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the external vibrator as a silicone blend (polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]), and the dual vibrator as a rubber mixture (polyisoprene). After extraction, phthalates known to be endocrine disruptors were present in all tested sex toys at levels exceeding hazard warnings. Analogous findings have been reported for similar materials that, when incorporated into other product categories, are subject to regulatory scrutiny in both the US and EU. This data set is not intended to be representative of sex toys as an entire class of products, nor are the abrasion experiments claiming to simulate exact use conditions. However, these exploratory data frame potential concerns, highlighting research questions and the need for prompt prioritization of protective action. Therefore, future studies and multi-stakeholder action are needed to understand and reduce risk for this class of products. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:39:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1a94db6fa0a4aeab36af363a9efe3fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4966 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:39:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1a94db6fa0a4aeab36af363a9efe3fd2023-03-26T11:06:02ZengSpringerOpenMicroplastics and Nanoplastics2662-49662023-03-013111310.1186/s43591-023-00054-6Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risksJoana Marie Sipe0Jaleesia D. Amos1Robert F. Swarthout2Amalia Turner3Mark R. Wiesner4Christine Ogilvie Hendren5Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke UniversityDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke UniversityA.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State UniversityDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke UniversityDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke UniversityDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke UniversityAbstract A majority of American adults report having used sex toys, which, by design, interact with intimate and permeable body parts yet have not been subject to sufficient risk assessment or management. Physical and chemical data are presented examining potential risks associated with four types of currently available sex toys: anal toy, beads, dual vibrator, and external vibrator. A standardized abrasion machine made real-time breakdown of products into microplastics and nanoplastics. The microplastics from the sex toys were then solvent extracted and analyzed using GC–MS. Rates of microplastics and nanoplastics released during abrasion testing from most microplastic release to least was the anal toy, beads, dual vibrator, external vibrator. Both micro- and nanoplastics particles were generated following the abrasion test, with the 50 percentile diameters (D50) ranging from the anal beads at 658.5 μm, dual vibrator at 887.83 μm, anal toy at 950 μm, and external vibrator at 1673.33 μm. The material matrix of each product was analyzed using ATR-FTIR, with results identifying the anal toy as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the anal beads as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the external vibrator as a silicone blend (polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]), and the dual vibrator as a rubber mixture (polyisoprene). After extraction, phthalates known to be endocrine disruptors were present in all tested sex toys at levels exceeding hazard warnings. Analogous findings have been reported for similar materials that, when incorporated into other product categories, are subject to regulatory scrutiny in both the US and EU. This data set is not intended to be representative of sex toys as an entire class of products, nor are the abrasion experiments claiming to simulate exact use conditions. However, these exploratory data frame potential concerns, highlighting research questions and the need for prompt prioritization of protective action. Therefore, future studies and multi-stakeholder action are needed to understand and reduce risk for this class of products.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00054-6MicroplasticsNanoplasticsPhthalatesSex toysRiskConsumer products |
| spellingShingle | Joana Marie Sipe Jaleesia D. Amos Robert F. Swarthout Amalia Turner Mark R. Wiesner Christine Ogilvie Hendren Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks Microplastics and Nanoplastics Microplastics Nanoplastics Phthalates Sex toys Risk Consumer products |
| title | Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks |
| title_full | Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks |
| title_fullStr | Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks |
| title_short | Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks |
| title_sort | bringing sex toys out of the dark exploring unmitigated risks |
| topic | Microplastics Nanoplastics Phthalates Sex toys Risk Consumer products |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00054-6 |
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