The EPA's draft evaluation finds diisodecyl phthalate safe for most uses but highlights significant health risks associated with diisononyl phthalate.
Leigh Krietsch Boerner reports for Chemical & Engineering News.
In short:
- The EPA identified potential cancer risks and liver damage from high concentrations of diisononyl phthalate (DINP), but not from diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP).
- DINP has been banned in children’s products since 2017 and added to the toxic chemicals list in 2023.
- The draft review covers consumer, commercial, and industrial uses but excludes personal care products and food contact materials.
Key quote:
“We have full confidence in the safety of DIDP and DINP, and this is why manufacturers through ACC’s High Phthalates Panel requested risk evaluations in 2019.”
— American Chemistry Council
Why this matters:
The EPA's draft review is comprehensive, encompassing the myriad uses of DINP across consumer, commercial, and industrial sectors. However, it notably excludes personal care products and food contact materials from its scope. This exclusion raises questions about the full extent of potential exposure and whether additional reviews might be necessary to ensure comprehensive public health protection.
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