Consumer Products

Intertox has helped companies improve the safety of consumer products for more than 20 years. Intertox uses science-based principles to help our clients manage any risks to human health that emerge. The experts on our staff study each step of the process from manufacturing to delivery. We study the potential risk for both workers and end-users.

Our deep knowledge of chemicals and the conditions under which they should be handled allows us develop protective, cost-effective safety programs that comply with regulations. Our experts review the risks of chemicals both in initial and continuing use. This ensures that when our clients “go green,” for instance, they truly reduce chemical risk.

We have built strong relationships with testing laboratories. This enables us to work seamlessly with clients and labs to identify extractables and leachables in products and their packaging. We can then assess what, if any, risk they might pose. If they do pose risks, we are there to find ways to address them.

Through the years, we have worked with clients to measure and assess chemical health risks associated with a wide variety of products and their packaging. Among them have been inhalers, sealed toys, insulin pumps, candy wrappers, IV bags, and inks on containers

Case Study: Cell phone carriers are challenged often on whether their phones may make people sick. One asked us to find answers. We assembled a random selection of their phones to test. We looked at two things. First, we checked the chemicals found on or in the phones themselves. Then we looked at the packaging. Our client wanted to know whether users may be harmed by inhaling chemicals that might have no odor. They also asked us to find out if simply holding or touching a phone poses a risk. We developed a forensic program to assess the source of the exposure and then evaluate any likely health outcomes. With this information, our client was able to address concerns directly and with science-based facts.

A client asked Intertox to conduct human and ecological risk assessments of ethylene vinyl alcohol, the chemical used to make shipping packaging commonly known as “peanuts.” Using U.S. EPA guidelines as benchmarks, we reviewed laboratory data, the current scientific literature, and the use of the material as a consumer product. Our report included a risk assessment of potential cancer and non-cancer endpoints.

• Conduct exposure and chemical safety assessments of manufacturing processes
• Coordinate laboratory testing for leachable compounds and analyze the results
• Design and implement scientific studies to assist in product liability litigation case development
• Serve as expert witness/consulting expert