Substance fact sheet
The background information page contains information and concepts that will be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI. It is strongly recommended that you read this before reading the information presented below.
For an explanation of some of the terms used in this page, see the Glossary
| Substance name | Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) |
| CASR number | 117-81-7 |
| Molecular formula | C24H38O4 |
| Synonyms | 2-benzene-dicarboxylate, 2-Ethylhexyl phthalate, BEHP, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-1, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Bisoflex 81, Bisoflex DOP, Compound 889, DAF 68, DEHP, Di(2-ethylhexyl)orthophthalate, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Di-sec-octyl phthalate, dioctyl ester, Dioctyl phthalate, DOP, Ergoplast FDO, Ethylhexyl phthalate, Eviplast 80, Eviplast 81, Fleximel, Flexol DOP, Flexol plasticizer DOP, Good-Rite GP 264, Hatcol DOP, Hercoflex 260, Kodaflex DOP, Mollan O, NCI- C52733, Nuoplaz DOP, Octoil, Octyl phthalate, Palatinol AH, Phthalic acid, Pittsburgh PX-138, Platinol DOP, RC Plasticizer DOP, RCRA waste number U028, Reomol D 79P, Reomol DOP, Sicol 150, Silicol 150, Staflex DOP, Truflex DOP, Vestinol AH, Vinicizer 80, Witcizer 312 |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: DEHP is a colourless liquid with almost no odour. Boiling Point 230 (°C) at 5 mm Hg Melting Point -50 (°C) Vapour Density 16 (air = 1) Density/Specific Gravity 0.9861 at 20/20 (°C) Vapour Pressure 1.32 mm Hg at 200 (°C) Chemical properties: |
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Common uses DEHP is a manufactured chemical that makes plastic more flexible. Its primary use is as one of several plasticisers in polyvinyl chloride resins used for fabricating flexible vinyl products. It is used to detect leaks in protective face gear, and as a test material for filtration systems. It has also been reported as being used as a replacement for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in dielectric fluids for electric capacitors and in vacuum pumps. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources Point sources are primarily from emissions or spills from sites that use DEHP in their manufacturing processes. Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data It wide use, volatility and persistence mean that DEHP is widely distributed in the environment. Natural sources DEHP has been suggested as a possible natural product in some animals and plants. Mobile sources None expected. Consumer products which may contain Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) DEHP is in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products like toys, vinyl upholstery, shower curtains, adhesives, and coatings. It is used in some food packaging, and medical product containers (including those for blood) and equipment. It is also used in some inks, pesticides, cosmetics, and vacuum pump oil. |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)? Exposure may come from use of medical products packaged in plastic such as blood products (particularly when used extensively, such as for kidney dialysis) eating some foods packaged in certain types of plastics or coated papers (especially fatty foods like milk products, fish and seafood), soils, drinking contaminated water or breathing air containing DEHP where it is used or spilled. Indoor concentrations may be higher because of the presence of products that may emit DEHP (eg plastics). By what pathways might Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) enter my body? It is possible for DEHP to enter the body by breathing the vapours or by ingesting it directly or through products contaminated by it. Absorption through skin contact is also possible but only very slowly. Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) registers 1.3. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). 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.  Health guidelines Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996): Worksafe Australia: Time weighted average (TWA): 5 mg/m3 Short time exposure limit (STEL): 10 mg/m3 See the Additional Information page for current health information. 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. What effect might Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) have on my health? There is no evidence that DEHP causes serious health effects in humans. Most of what we know about the health effects of DEHP comes from high exposures to rats and mice which may not be representative of the effects on humans. In general effects observed in animals were only from very high and prolonged doses. Exposure to DEHP in air did not result in any observed effects. Exposure in food and water resulted in effects on sperm production, the ability to reproduce and birth defects. Kidney damage similar to the damage seen in the kidneys of long-term dialysis patients has also observed. DEHP has been classified as a potential carcinogen. DEHP is one of a range of phthalates which have been suggested as being able to be effect human and animal endocrine systems (endocrine disruptors). |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate DEHP in the atmosphere is present either as a gas or attached to solid particles. The gas breaks down relatively quickly ( 1 or 2 days) due to the action of other chemicals in the atmosphere. The solid particles are estimated to be removed from the atmosphere in a period of two to three weeks by various mechanisms including precipitation, wash out by rain and reaction with other chemicals. DEHP is slightly persistent in the environment. Small organisms in surface water or soil break it down into harmless compounds. It doesn't break down easily in deep soil, or in lake or river bottoms. It is in plants, fish, and other animals, but animals high on the food chain are able to breakdown DEHP, so tissue levels are usually low. Phthalate is slightly persistent in water but will break down in a few months. Environmental Transport DEHP from plastic materials, coatings, and flooring can increase indoor air levels. It dissolves faster in water if gas, oil, or paint removers are present. DEHP in the particle-phase is subject to wet and dry deposition. It will be transported in food chain though it will ultimately be broken down and does not tend to bioaccumulate though the concentration of DEHP in fish is expected to be much higher then the concentration in water in which the fish live. About 42.8% of DEHP will eventually end up in terrestrial soil; about 40% will end up in aquatic sediments; and about 17% will end up in air. Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking 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 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.  Environmental guidelines Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC, 1992): Maximum 0.6 micrograms per Litre (ie 0.0000006g/L) in fresh water. See the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. What effect might Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) have on the environment? Its wide use and distribution, as well as its high volatility and persistence, lead to its common occurrence in fish, water, and sediments. Phthalate has low long and short term toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long and short term effects of DEHP to plants, birds, or land animals. |
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Comparative data NPI Rank Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was ranked as 67 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 2.5.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this fact sheet
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