Softener in IV Bags Found Safe for Toys

The vinyl softener that some groups oppose in IV bags is safe for use in both medical devices and children’s toys, said a study released in Washington, D.C. A panel of scientists headed by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop said it reviewed previously published and ongoing studies on DEHP, a substance used to soften polyvinyl chloride intravenous bags that hold blood, medicine and other fluids. The Koop panel’s findings contrast sharply with a study released last week by the consumer group Health Care Without Harm. That group said its review of more than 100 studies showed the substance could harm multiple organ systems in animals and pose a danger to humans when it leaches into fluids.