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IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook PhthalatesChemical Name: They encompass a wide family of compounds. Dimethylphthalate (DMP), diethylphthalate (DEP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), benzylbutylphthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)(C24H38O4) and dioctylphthalate (DOP) are some of the most common. CAS Number: 84-74-2 (DBP), 85-68-7 (BBP), 117-81-7 (DEHP). Properties: The physico-chemical properties of phthalic acid esters vary greatly depending on the alcohol moieties. Solubility in water: at 25°C; vapour pressure: mm Hg at 20°C; log KOW: 1.5 to 7.1. Discovery/Uses: They are widely used as plasticizers, insect repellents, solvents for cellulose acetate in the manufacture of varnishes and dopes. Vinyl plastic may contain up to 40% DEHP. Persistence/fate: They have become ubiquitous pollutants, in marine, estuarine and freshwater sediments, sewage sludges, soils and food. Degradation (t 1/2 ) values generally range from 1-30 days in freshwaters. Toxicity: The acute toxicity of phthalates is usually low: the oral LD50 for DEHP is about 25-34 g/kg, depending on the species; for DBP reported LD50 values following oral administration to rats range from 8 to 20 g/kg body weight; in mice, values are approximately 5 to 16 g/kg body weight. In general, DEHP is not toxic for aquatic communities at the low levels usually present. In animals, high levels of DEHP damaged the liver and kidney and affected the ability to reproduce. There is no evidence that DEHP causes cancer in humans but they have been reported as endocrine disrupting chemicals. The EPA proposed a Maximum Admissible Concentration (MAC) of 6 µg/L of DEHP in drinking water. Source: UNEP Chemicals, Regional Reports of the Regionally Based Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances Program (2002) Available from: http://www.chem.unep.ch/pts UNEP Chemicals 11-13, chemin des Anemones CH-1219 Chatelaine, GE Switzerland. 
IPEN Body Burden Community Monitoring Handbook - 2003 |
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