:"Permanent skin contact" doesn't apply here because parallettes are only used occasionally. Also, PVC health issues are primarily related to prolonged exposure to PVC manufacturing processes or byproducts (though chewing on PVC toys for extended periods is unhealthy). Occasional skin contact wouldn't seem to be a problem. Even so, if one has concerns about PVC, it would be a simple matter to fabricate parallettes from many other materials (but none as readily available or as inexpensive as PVC). Or, simply wrap the PVC handles with tape.