Petition to the FDA:

Take Action Now to Protect Patients from Exposure to DEHP

For decades, scientists have recognized the risks of exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is an endocrine-disrupting chemical associated with serious adverse health effects, including cancers and reproductive disorders.¹

In 2006, the American Medical Association adopted a policy urging healthcare providers to avoid using DEHP in medical devices.² In 2008, Congress banned the manufacture, sale or distribution of children’s toys containing DEHP.³ In 2024, California became the first state in the nation to ban DEHP in IV bags and tubing.⁴ 

Today, however, millions of American patients continue to be exposed to this toxic chemical when receiving routine medical care. Even though safe alternatives are available, approximately 70% of IV bags used in the U.S. are made from DEHP,⁵ which can leach from the IV bag directly into the fluids that are infused in patients.⁶

In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidelines recommending that healthcare providers consider alternatives to DEHP when conducting procedures on high-risk patients.⁷ Since then, multiple scientific studies have verified the dangers of patient exposure to even small levels of DEHP.⁶

More than 20 years after the FDA issued its first guidance on this subject, now is the time to take aggressive and necessary steps to protect the health 
of patients across the U.S. from this toxic chemical. We call on the FDA to prioritize reviewing and updating its guidelines on the use of DEHP in IV bags and other medical devices to reflect the latest science.