Sex Toys Pose No Health Risk

[zzyzzx]

Sex Toys Pose No Health Risk
Updated: Thu, Aug 02 11:12 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Adult sex toys pose no health risk even though they contain chemicals banned from baby toys last year because of health fears, the European Commission said on Thursday.

"There is no evidence that people using sex toys are at risk," Health and Consumer Protection spokesman Torsten Muench told reporters, stressing the European Union had no plan to ban the chemicals from sexual aids.

Consumer campaigners have linked phthalates, used to soften the otherwise rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to liver and kidney damage and testicular problems.

EU governments last year imposed an emergency ban on the use of phthalates in some baby toys, because of fears that the chemicals could harm babies by leaking out of toys designed to be put in their mouths.

The plastics industry disputes any risk, arguing that not enough chemicals are leaked to pose a problem.

Muench said a German study of levels of phthalates in sex toys failed to report any leakage of the chemicals.

The study did however show chemical levels in sex toys up to 20 times higher than the legal limit in baby toys, he said.

[vanillabox]

With posts like this, who needs cable?

[zzyzzx]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>The study did however show chemical levels in sex toys up to 20 times higher than the legal limit in baby toys, he said.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

My guess is that they are trying to keep you from lending your sex toys to babies.

[zzyzzx]

It reminds me of this story:

Baby Vibe
by Julia E. Joy

For a woman, it is always alarming when her vibrator quits working. I know there are those among you who know this feeling of panic. It seems to happen at the most inconvenient times. She shakes it, she bangs it, she even flips the switch back and forth repeatedly. New batteries are of no use. Eventually she has to accept it. It is over. That faithful friend will never hum again.

My favored vibrator was red. It was medium sized and had this case that created the illusion of a giant lipstick. It had a certain degree of class. I got it in 1989 and it was my first, so it held a special place in my heart. After examining and poking at the wires within, I reluctantly accepted its time had gone. Replacing it would not be easy.

I was not all that concerned, because I still had an alternate vibrating bullet, a Joni's butterfly, a detachable massaging shower head, and my hand. I was in no great hurry. Accommodations could be made. I assumed eventually I would click my way to an online sex shop and select an updated version.

The town I live in has no liquor stores. It also has no sex shops. If I was aware of this at the time, I never would have accepted employment in such a backwards burb. You can get a copy of Penthouse at one particular gas station. They keep them covered up behind the counter. But that is the extent of porn in this small Kansas town. Pitiful.

As I drove home from an out of town meeting last week, I decided to stop at my usual X-rated video store. It was conveniently located at an intersection I passed right through. There were about seven cars there, but when I entered no one was in the store. They must have all been in the 24 hour theater. On Tuesdays women get in free. I had often wondered about this free Tuesday thing and had made a mental note to check out this theater, for research purposes. Unfortunately it was a Thursday.

I was relieved to see I had privacy for browsing. I was in a bit of a rush, so I skipped right past the anal section and BDSM corner and headed straight for vibrators.

The first objects that caught my eye were these enormous realistic looking kinds. I ruled them out almost immediately. First of all, they seemed quite large. Where would you store such a thing? It would not have fit in my wooden jewelry box on the night stand. Plus they were tacky. Some had attachments that actually frightened me.

Next I saw a nice looking silver one. It was all aerodynamic and had a sleek case. I was impressed, but it was a bit pricey. I am nothing if not cheap. I also worried it would be cold against my naked flesh. While I do enjoy the ice cube trick, this was not what I was looking for in a vibrator.

There was a whole rack of what was termed "personal vibrators" As opposed to public vibrators, I assume. They came in many pleasing colors. I was tempted. They were very small though. I was thinking four inches maybe. What if it got...well....lost. Despite a vigorous regiment of kegals I've often wondered if perhaps I wasn't just a little roomy
anyway. My ego may not be able to take such a humiliating event. It would lead to a conversation with an ER nurse I would just as soon avoid.

At this point I started to panic. The sales clerk gave me a look from behind the counter. I wasn't sure if it was an annoyed look or a lecherous look. Perhaps there was nothing there for me. Maybe I needed to retreat to the safety of online anonymity and limitless comparison shopping.

Then a lilac purple one caught my eye. The package boasted it was made from a "realistic jel." It was a type of rubbery flexible tip it seemed, but with enough stiffness to get the job done. It was a nice size and had that element of charm I was looking for. I snatched (no pun
intended) it up and headed for the cashier. Once again I fumed and silently asking myself why the counter was so damn high. I had to reach up to pay the man. It's like some intimidating secret booth. He looked down and asked "Do you need me to put a battery in that?" I suppose in case I needed to use it immediately, like in the car on the drive home. I thanked him for his kindness and let him slip it in. The battery, I mean.

I drove back into town, picked up the baby, and head for home. Once I was able to relax I took the new toy from my purse and opened it so I could check out this alleged realistic feel. I was pinching at it when the phone rang.

It was my mother. We chatted for a minute and soon I heard a happy squealy noise coming from the baby. I looked up to smile at my 13 month old charmer and then I saw a sight that made my heart drop.

He had the vibrator and was happily chewing and sucking on the tip. Apparently the realistic texture made a great teether. I dashed across the room and snatched it from his innocent lips. He reacted as any child would. He let out a high pitched ear shattering shriek. I offered him several other options, but he was fixated on the pretty purple thing. What is a mother to do?

So I turned it on. If he had thought it was a cool toy before, he was enraptured then. He giggled with glee and even made a type of vibrating babble noise - eh eh eh eh eh. I allowed him a few moments of joy before slyly substituting an oatmeal cookie in its place.

Obviously now I can never use it. It is far too bizarre on so many levels. I'd hate to be settling in to enjoy a nice masturbatory session and suddenly flash on my son's grinning face. To use it now would lead to therapy later I am certain. I am only glad he discovered it when it was fresh from the package and not after...well....after I had it a while. The horror.

Perhaps I could exchange it for a new one. But how would I explain the teeth marks?


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: zzyzzx on 2001-08-03 10:23:59 ]</font>

[Cobra]

I was just browsing through the oldest posts (I'm bored) and found this.

A good waste of three minutes!

CobraDMX

[tgpo]

I don't like the usage of the word leakage in the story

[lordsmurf]

I was just browsing through the oldest posts (I'm bored) and found this.

A good waste of three minutes!

CobraDMX

Yep... "sex toys" never gets old.