• About Us
  • What is DfE?
  • Quienes Somos? (Spanish)
  • Safer Product Labeling
  • DfE's Alternatives
    Assessments Program
  • DfE Stakeholder Groups
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • DfE on Facebook!
• About the DfE Label
  • What Does the DfE Label Mean?
  • Which Products Have the DfE
    Label?
  • How to Partner, Get the DfE
    Label
  • DfE Criteria for Safer Chemical
    Ingredients
  • DfE Antimicrobial Pesticide Pilot
    Project
• Labeled Products
  • For Consumers
  • For Industrial & Institutional
    Purchasers
• DfE Projects
  • DfE's Alternatives Assessments
    Program
  • BPA in Thermal Paper
  • Flame Retardant Alternatives
    to decaBDE
  • Flame Retardant Alternatives
    for Hexabromocyclododecane
    (HBCD)
  • Flame Retardants in Circuit
    Boards
  • Nonylphenol Ethoxylate (NPE)
    Surfactants
  • Alternatives to Certain Phthalates
  • DfE Life-Cycle Assessments
  • Lithium-ion Batteries &
    Nanotechnology
  • Safer Detergents Stewardship
    Initiative
  • DfE's Best Practices Partnerships
• Resources
  • Publications
  • CleanGredients® (database
    of safer ingredients)

 

Alternatives to Certain Phthalates Partnership

Partnership Homepage | About This Project | Milestones | Participants

Phthalates are used in industrial and consumer products, primarily as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. They are also used in medical devices, beauty products, textiles, paints, food packaging, dental material, and paper. DfE has convened a multi-stakeholder partnership to explore the human health and environmental profiles of the following eight phthalates and potential functional alternatives:

CASRN	CA Index Name	Acronym	Common Name
84-74-2	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-dibutyl ester	DBP	Dibutyl phthalate
84-69-5	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-bis-(2-methylpropyl)	DIBP	Diisobutyl phthalate
85-68-7	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1-butyl 2- (phenylmethyl) ester	BBP	Butyl benzyl phthalate
131-18-0	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylid acid, 1,2-dipentyl ester	DnPP	Di-n-pentyl phthalate
117-81-7	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-bis(2-eethylhexyl) ester	DEHP	Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
117-84-0	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-dioctyl ester	DnOP	Di-n-octyl phthalate
28553-12-0 68515-48-0	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-diisononyl ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C8-C10-branched alkyl esters, C9-rich	DINP and associated chemical*	Diisononyl phthalate Di-(C9-rich branched C8-C10-alkyl) phthalate
26761-40-0 68515-49-1	1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-diisodecyl ester 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C9-C11-branchedalkyl esters, C10-rich	DIDP and associated chemical*	Diisodecyl phthalate Di-(C10-rich branched C9-C11-alkyl) phthalate

Stakeholder participation from a range of interest groups is aimed at ensuring that the full range of views is considered from the start of the project and that they are incorporated appropriately into the project objective and methodology. The goal is for the resulting information to help inform the process of substituting safer alternatives, with reduced health and environmental concerns, for these phthalate chemicals.

Why is DfE conducting an alternatives assessment?

EPA is concerned about certain phthalates due to their toxicity and the evidence of pervasive human and environmental exposure to these chemicals. A number of phthalates have been detected in biomonitoring surveys of human tissues, indicating widespread human exposure (CDC 2009).  Adverse effects on the development of the reproductive system in male laboratory animals are the most sensitive health outcomes from phthalate exposure. Several studies have shown associations between phthalate exposures and adverse human health effects, although no causal link has been established. Recent scientific attention has focused on whether the cumulative effect of several phthalates may multiply the reproductive effects in the organism exposed.

EPA is conducting a Design for the Environment alternatives assessment to develop information that could be used:

• To encourage industry to move away from phthalates in a non-regulatory setting.
• To expand risk management efforts beyond whatever regulatory action might be taken under TSCA.
• To use as input to a regulatory action. The alternatives assessment will build upon existing knowledge and will consider exposures to all human subpopulations, including children. Additionally, environmental exposures will be considered.

How do I get more information?
If you are interested in participating in this partnership, or if you would like more information, please contact Cal Baier-Anderson of DfE at 202-564-1933 or baier-anderson.caroline@epa.gov

Top of page