TY  - SER
TI  - PVC exposure may endanger neonates
SN  - 0360-4039
PY  - 2015///
KW  - Infants
KW  - Health aspects
KW  - Medical equipment
KW  - Physiological apparatus
KW  - Polivinyl chloride
KW  - Chemical properties
KW  - Human exposure
KW  - Premature birth
KW  - United States
N1  - Nursing
N2  - Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is used to add flexibility to many medical devices made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), including I.V. bags, tubing, and catheters. Because DEHP doesn't bind chemically with PVC, it can leech into fluids and body tissues. Testing the extent of non-endocrine toxic risks to critically ill premature infants, researchers made a startling discovery: Daily intake of DEHP in preterm neonates in the neonatal ICU can reach 16 mg/kg/ day "which is on the order of 4,000 and 160,000 times higher than desired to avoid reproductive and hepatic toxicities, respectively."
ER  -