Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about dibutyl phthalate. It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about dibutyl phthalate and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of dibutyl phthalate emissions in Australia.
Inhalation exposure, at high levels, of dibutyl phthalate may include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. It may cause nausea, tearing of the eyes, vomiting, dizziness, and headache. Long-term exposures may cause liver and kidney damage. Dibutyl phthalate may harm the developing foetus and the male testes.
Dibutyl phthalate can enter the body when a person breathes air containing it, or when a person drinks water or eats food that has been containing with the compound. Dibutyl phthalate can enter the body through the skin, but this is very slow.
Dibutyl phthalate is used extensively throughout society, it is now widespread in the environment. Most people are exposed to low levels in air, water, and food. In many cases the largest source of exposure is from food containing dibutyl phthalate. Some of the dibutyl phthalate in food is from plastics used to wrap and store the food and certain types of food (especially fish and shellfish) may absorb larger quantities of dibutyl phthalate (from 50 to 500 parts per billion). Air and water also contains small levels of dibutyl phthalate. Levels in city air are found to be 0.03 to 0.06 parts per billion. In drinking supplies it is found at 0.1 to 0.2 parts per billion. At these low levels dibutyl phthalate is not expected to cause any harmful effects.
Exposure at higher levels may occur in a number of ways; workers in the industries that use or produce dibutyl phthalate are at risk of exposure. Consumers can be exposed to higher levels of dibutyl phthalate by exposure to air from production and processing facilities using dibutyl phthalate.
See Sources for more information.
According to Worksafe Australia: For dibutyl phthalate, it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations of 0.005 grams per cubic metre of air over an eight-hour workshift.
The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information.
Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines.
Dibutyl phthalate will exist as both a gas and a particle if released to the atmosphere. It also will be found in the soil and water. Dibutyl phthalate is highly toxic to aquatic life. The toxicity of dibutyl phthalate on plants, birds, and land animals has not been determined. Dibutyl phthalate will bioaccumulate in the tissues of fish and shellfish.
Industrial emissions of dibutyl phthalate can produce elevated concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Since it breaks down quickly in the air high levels are not likely to spread far from where it is used. It may also be transported through the environment in the water and the tissues of fish and shellfish.
Dibutyl phthalate enters the environment during production and use. In the air it will break down into other chemicals in approximately one and a half days. In the water it will be broken down into other chemicals in between 2 and 20 days.
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters: (ANZECC, 1992):
Maximum of 4 micrograms/L (i.e. 0.000004 g/L)
Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines.
Dibutyl phthalate is a man-made chemical that is added to plastics and other chemicals. In plastics it helps keep them soft (a plasticizer). It is also used in elastomers, lacquers, explosives, printing inks, resin solvents, perfume oil solvents, paper coatings, adhesives, and nail polish. It is used as a solid rocket propellant.
The primary sources of dibutyl phthalate emissions are the industries that manufacture it or use it in production. Some of the industries that use it in production are the chemical industry, the plastics industry (a softening agent), machinery manufacturers, and manufacturers of plywood and millwork. These emissions are primarily to the air, with a small percentage to the water, and land.
Commercial and household use and disposal of paints and varnish may release dibutyl phthalate. Manufacturers of plastic parts and carpet backing may release dibutyl phthalate.
Dibutyl phthalate may occur in soils by microbial biosynthesis (manufacture by small organisms).
Not expected.
Consumer products containing dibutyl phthalate may include colognes and perfumes, cosmetics, paints undercoats and primers, plastic products, floor polish, window cleaning products, caulks and sealants, latex type adhesives, resin and rubber adhesives, safety glass, vinyl floors, hairspray and nail polish.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
Dibutyl phthalate was ranked as 66 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 2.5.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 dibutyl phthalate registers 0.8. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 dibutyl phthalate registers 1.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.
| Substance name | Dibutyl phthalate |
| CASR number | 84-74-2 |
| Molecular formula | C16H22O4 |
| Synonyms | DBP; Di-n-Butyl Phthalate; n-Butyl phthalate; 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid dibutyl ester; Phthalic acid dibutyl ester; o-benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutyl ester; benzene-o-dicarboxylic acid di-n-butyl ester; dibutyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate; Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dibutylester; Dibutyl o-Phthalate |
| Physical properties: Dibutyl phthalate is a colourless, oily liquid with a weak odour. Melting Point (°C): -35 Boiling Point (°C): 340 Specific Gravity: 1.043 Vapour Density: 9.6 |
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| Chemical properties: Dibutyl phthalate is soluble in most organic solvents, but only slightly soluble in water. Flashpoint: (°C) 171 |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.