Phthalate Ester Plasticizers-Why and How They Are Used

Phthalate ester plasticizers--why and how they are used.

Analysis of potentially toxic phthalate plasticizers used in toy manufacturing.

A plasticizer is a substance normally incorporated to a PVC resin or some other materials such as paints, to improve some of its properties as flexibility or processability. Phthalates, adipates, phosphates and some others are the main compounds used as plasticizers. Some of these compounds, as bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP), are being questioned worldwide because of their potential toxicit...

Absolute auctions and secret reserve prices: Why are they used?

Absolute auctions, i.e. auctions with a zero public reserve price, and auctions withsecret reserve prices are frequently used by various auction sites. However, it is hardto find a rationale for these formats. By introducing the possibility that buyers differin their understanding of how the participation rate varies with the auction format,and how reserve prices are distributed...

Toxicology of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and other phthalic acid ester plasticizers.

The first poly(vinyl chloride) blood bag containing di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) as a plasticizer was introduced in medicine in 1950. Since then, millions of liters of blood collected in plastic have been transfused. Aside from the obvious advantages of plastic over glass containers for the collection, storage and transfusion of blood, plastic containers have made blood component therapy po...

Medically unexplained symptoms: how often and why are they missed?

We assessed risk factors affecting the provisional diagnosis of medically unexplained symptoms made by physicians in new patients, in 526 clinical encounters. Comparisons were made between the doctor's initial assessments regarding the nature of symptoms, and the final diagnosis. Physicians were more likely to err on the side of diagnosing the symptoms as medically explained rather than unexpla...