Draft Risk Evaluations Available for Two Phthalates
EPA has released draft risk evaluations and supporting documents for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) for public comment and peer review by the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC), the agency announced in early June. DBP is an oily liquid that is used as a plasticizer, in adhesives and sealants, and in paints and coatings. DEHP, a liquid at room temperature, is primarily used as a plasticizer.
The draft risk evaluations determined that both DBP and DEHP present “unreasonable risks to human health and the environment” under certain conditions of use (COUs). The Toxic Substances Control Act defines COU as “the circumstances . . . under which a chemical substance is intended, known, or reasonably foreseen to be manufactured, processed, distributed in commerce, used, or disposed of.”
EPA found that DBP presents unreasonable risks to workers, including occupational nonusers (ONUs), in 20 COUs, to consumers in four COUs, and to the environment in one COU. The finding for workers and ONUs stems from noncancer risks from acute, intermediate, and chronic dermal and inhalation exposure.
For DEHP, EPA found unreasonable risks to workers from 13 COUs and to the environment from 20 COUs.
Neither risk evaluation reflects the use of personal protective equipment, which could reduce exposures and mitigate risk, EPA states.
The SACC, which supports activities under TSCA and other statutes, will review the draft DBP and DEHP risk evaluations at a meeting scheduled for Aug. 4–8. The SACC comprises 20 members who are experts in toxicology, environmental risk assessment, exposure assessment, and related sciences.
The deadline to submit comments on the draft risk evaluations for DBP and DEHP is Aug. 4. Comments may be submitted through the regulatory dockets for DBP and DEHP. For more information, refer to the EPA webpages for DBP and DEHP and the notice in the Federal Register.
DBP and DEHP are part of a group of five phthalates that are undergoing EPA risk evaluation, including butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP). The draft risk evaluation for DCHP was released in January and is available in the DCHP docket. According to EPA, draft risk evaluations for BBP and DIBP will be released in July.
