Chemical Romance: The Dangers of Sex Toys and Green Alternatives

Written by:  Domina Doll

Snake Oils in Sexy Packaging

As a sexually liberated girl, I’ve enjoyed various adult toys without really thinking about it.  Like Charlotte from Sex and the City, I bought a Rabbit Habit and began a reclusive “chemical” romance, unaware of the dangers to my health.  When I landed a job as a retail slut in a local sex store I began to notice that all of the cheaper toys had an offensive chemical smell and some of them even oozed a slimy substance that was definitely not lube.  I became concerned, both for my own health and for my customers.  I didn’t feel very ethical selling products that I would not personally use.  Since most of the packaging was evasive, I decided it was my responsibility to become better informed.  I was alarmed to discover the nature of some sex toy ingredients and their potential risks.

One offender is a chemical compound called phthalates that is used to soften hard plastics.  It is found in cheap “adult novelties” that are commonly labelled jelly, rubber, latex and/or “crystal-something” and it is that “something” that you should be worried about.  Most jelly sex toys are targeted at women and come in all types including dildos and vibrators.  They are distinguished by their tendency to off –gas chemicals that can leach through the thin membranes in the vagina and anus.  Even more sinister, phthalates have been linked to cancer and are banned by Health Canada for use in children’s and pet’s toys.  They have not been banned in sex toys however, because of a labelling loophole.  They are sold as “novelty items” and “intended for external use only,” so no one has put any regulations in place.  The most popular vibrator in the world—the Rabbit Habit—was analyzed by Jennifer Pritchett of badvibes.org and found to contain 60% of the toxic phthalate chemicals.

But, phthalates are not your only cause for concern. Other products to avoid are clitoral pleasure gels or stimulators.  Many of these contain menthol, which can burn and may cause permanent damage and lessen your sensitivity over time.  Finally, all lubes are not created equal. Women who are prone to yeast infections should avoid water-based lubes that contain sugar or glycerine because yeast feeds on sugars.  Furthermore, some lubes contain parabens and petrochemicals that can cause skin inflammations, and if you are sensitive, you should avoid them.

Safe Alternatives for Happy Valleys

Fortunately, there are a few honourable manufacturers out there who design sex toys with your health and pleasure in mind.  Companies like Tantus, Fun Factory, Vixen Creations, Happy Valley and Down Under make hand-cast toys from medical-grade silicone, and have been doing so since day one.  Silicone—unlike jelly—is non-toxic, non-porous, hypoallergenic and hygienic. Although silicone toys are slightly more expensive than lesser quality jellies, they are much more durable so you get more bang for your buck.  Other materials that are safe to use internally include hard plastic vibes, glass and acrylic, surgical steel and wood.

Environmentally Friendly Eco-gasms

Now that we’ve protected your unmentionables from toxic hazards, you may want to consider what sex toys are doing to the planet.  Your discarded sex toys don’t end up in Sex Toy Heaven.  Like much of our waste, unwanted sex toys permeate our landfills and pollute the environment.  Just think about every condom you have ever used and times that by 200 Billion.  And, what about all the batteries that make your vibes jive?  There are several new eco-friendly solutions that are good for you and the planet.

To start with, you can buy rechargeable toys, or at the very least, rechargeable batteries that will last much longer than ordinary ones. But check to make sure that your toy is compatible with rechargeables first. You can even purchase solar-powered vibes. Talk about fun in the sun.  There are also a variety of vegan condoms available, such as Condi Condoms (non-latex) and Mamba that are all-natural, don’t test on animals or use animal-derived ingredients.  Trojan makes a non-vegan alternative out of lambskin called Naturalamb that is biodegradable.  Some places have even started  recycling old sex toys. The UK sex store LoveHoney set up a “Rabbit Amnesty” program where you can send your old Rabbit Habits and get a new, non-toxic one for 50% off.  They say they have saved over 1000 rabbit vibes from landfills already.  Recycling sex toys and safer materials?  Now that’s a habit I can feel good about. ?