California's phthalates ban now in effect

A new law in California banning chemicals called phthalates took effect January 1. Next month, a federal ban on phthalates will take effect.

But what are phthalates and why do they need to be banned?

The Northern California NPR station KQED produced a series about phthalates and the ban. It explores the history behind phthalates – how they were first developed and what products they are used in.

Click here to view a timeline of phthalates – from their introduction in the 1920s to the scheduled Feb. 10 federal ban.

Hover your mouse over the various household products to see what chemicals may lurk in household items like couches, electronics, cosmetics, cribs, baby bottles and more.

Since phthalates are used to soften plastic, they are a common component of children’s toys. Click here to search for toy tests and learn more about phthalates in toys.

The KQED report includes an interactive section comparing chemical regulations across the country.

Officials in California and Washington, DC have been at odds about whether the federal law preempts California's law, which is the strictest in the country, effectively banning the sale of toys and other children's products containing phthalates. The federal law, which sets the same phthalates levels as the state law, was limited by a legal opinion issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), applying the new federal standards to products manufactured on or after the law takes effect on February 10. In response, California's Attorney General, Jerry Brown, in December told the CPSC that it did not have the authority to preempt California's stricter version. 

According to a report by the McClatchy-Tribune News Service, a spokesperson for the CPSC said the commission would not block implementation of California's stricter ban and major retailers said they would follow California's standards for products sold nationwide.