September 1996 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
Diethyl Phthalate |
(Ftalato
de dietilo) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about diethyl phthalate. For more information,
you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous
substances and their health effects. This information is important
because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure
to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration,
how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether
other chemicals are present.
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SUMMARY: Exposure to diethyl
phthalate occurs when you use plastics that contain it,
and when you eat food from plastic containers made with
it. Health effects have not been reported in people exposed
to diethyl phthalate. This substance has been found in
at least 248 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites
identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). |
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What
is diethyl phthalate? |
Diethyl phthalate is a colorless liquid
that has a bitter, disagreeable taste. This synthetic substance
is commonly used to make plastics more flexible. Products
in which it is found include toothbrushes, automobile parts,
tools, toys, and food packaging.
Diethyl phthalate can be released fairly
easily from these products, as it is not part of the chain
of chemicals (polymers) that makes up the plastic. Diethyl
phthalate is also used in cosmetics, insecticides, and aspirin.
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What
happens to diethyl phthalate when it enters the environment? |
- Diethyl phthalate has been found in waste sites and landfills
from discarded plastics.
- It may break down in the air.
- It can become attached to particles of dust in the air,
and can settle out.
- It is broken down to harmless products by microorganisms
in soil and water.
- Small amounts of it can build up in fish and shellfish
living in water containing it.
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How
might I be exposed to diethyl phthalate? |
- Eating food that was contained in plastic packaging.
- Eating contaminated fish and shellfish.
- Drinking contaminated water near waste sites and landfills
that contain diethyl phthalate.
- Using consumer products that contain it.
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How
can diethyl phthalate affect my health? |
No information is available regarding
possible effects caused by diethyl phthalate if you breathe,
eat, or drink it, or if it touches your skin. Very high oral
doses of diethyl phthalate have caused death in animals, but
brief oral exposures to lower doses caused no harmful effects.
Weight gain was decreased in animals
that ate high doses of diethyl phthalate for a long time.
The liver and kidneys of these animals were larger than normal,
but not from any harmful effects of diethyl phthalate.
It is not known if diethyl phthalate
causes birth defects in humans. Fewer live babies were born
to female animals that were exposed to diethyl phthalate throughout
their lives.
The presence of an extra rib has been
noted in newborn rats whose mothers were given very high dietary
doses of diethyl phthalate, but this effect is not considered
harmful by all scientists.
Some birth defects occurred in rats whose
mothers received high doses of diethyl phthalate by injection
during pregnancy. Humans are not exposed to diethyl phthalate
by this route.
Diethyl phthalate can be mildly irritating
when applied to the skin of animals. It can also be slightly
irritating when put directly into the eyes of animals.
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How
likely is diethyl phthalate to cause cancer? |
Diethyl phthalate placed directly on
the skin of rats daily for 2 years was not carcinogenic. Liver
tumors were seen in mice that had diethyl phthalate placed
directly on their skin daily for 2 years. This type of tumor
is common in mice, and the smallest dose resulted in a similar
number of tumors as the largest dose.
It is not clear if diethyl phthalate
will cause a similar effect in humans. Other studies of cancer
in humans or animals exposed to diethyl phthalate were not
located.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to diethyl
phthalate? |
There is no routine medical test to show
if you have been exposed to diethyl phthalate. However, it
has been measured in semen, fat, and kidney tissue in laboratory
studies. These tests aren't available at most doctors' offices,
but can be done at special laboratories that have the right
equipment.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The EPA requires that spills or accidental
releases into the environment of 1,000 pounds or more of diethyl
phthalate be reported to the EPA.
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommend a maximum concentration
of 5 milligrams of diethyl phthalate per cubic meter of air
(5 mg/m³) in workplace air for an 8- to 10-hour workday,
40-hour workweek.
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Glossary |
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Insecticide: Substance that kills insects.
Milligram (mg): One thousandth of a gram.
Oral: Taken by mouth.
Synthetic: Made by humans.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Toxicological Profile for diethyl phthalate. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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