Plasticizer

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-021228",
  "term": "Plasticizer",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Small, often volatile molecules that are added to hard, stiff plastics to make them softer and more flexible.\n\n2. Materials incorporated mechanically in plastics (usually PVC) to increase flexibility, workability or distensibility; due to the non-chemical inclusion, plasticizers leach out from the plastic and are found in body fluids and the general environment.\n\n3. Plasticizers are added to plastic materials to improve flexibility, workability, or extrudability. Most plasticizers are used in the manufacture of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Phthalates, adipates, and trimellitates are the most common plasticizers.\n\n4. Additives that give hard plastics the desired flexibility, durability or other functional characteristics.",
  "references": [
    "America's Children and the Environment Terms",
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)",
    "EPA Preferred and Alternative Methods for Estimating Air Emissions from Plastic Products Manufacturing at http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/eiip/techreport/volume02/ii11.pdf",
    "EPA's Safer Choice Standard (February 2015) https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2013-12/documents/standard-for-safer-products.pdf"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/plasticizer/"
}