DIMETHYL PHTHALATE
Fragrance Ingredient; Plasticizer; Solvent; FILM FORMING; MASKING; PLASTICISER
Also listed as
1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, DIMETHYL ESTER; DIMETHYL 1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLATE; PHTHALIC ACID, DIMETHYL ESTER; DIMETHYL ESTER 1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID; DIMETHYL ESTER PHTHALIC ACID; 1,2BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, DIMETHYL ESTER; DIMETHYLPHTHALATE; DMP; 1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, DIMETHYL ESTER; AVOLIN; DIMETHYL 1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLATE
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
 | Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
| Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Occupational hazards |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Ecotoxicology, Data gaps |
About DIMETHYL PHTHALATE: Dimethyl Phthalate is the diester of methyl alcohol and phthalic acid. It conforms to theformula:
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human immune system toxicant | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Known human respiratory toxicant | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | |
| One or more animal studies show liver effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1974 | |
| One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1974 | |
| One or more animal studies show blood effects at very low doses | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1974 | |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Limited evidence of reproductive toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | |
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1980 |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Insufficient data to determine safety | EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | |
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| 514 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Safe as used in cosmetics according to industry panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) •Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product •Determined safe for use in cosmetics based on concentrations of surrogate, related chemical in cosmetics, by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) • |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Group D: Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (EPA classification) |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | DIMETHYLPHTHALATE | •Skin Sensitizer - An agent that can induce an allergic reaction in the skin or lungs: Yes; •Reproductive Toxin - A chemical that is toxic to the reproductive system, including defects in the progeny and injury to male and female reproductive function: Yes; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 5 mg/m3; •LC50 - Lethal concentration in 50% of animals tested: 22149 mg/m3; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 5 mg/m3; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 1: must be preheated; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 2000 mg/m3; |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Pesticide inerts: potentially toxic, testing priority, according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | DIMETHYL ESTER1,2BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 1,2-BENZENEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, DIMETHYL ESTER | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority even though it did not meet the strict criteria of the categorization exercise of CEPA. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow) 1977 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat skn) |
| RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow) 1977 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (rat skn) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1974 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • blood - Other changes (rat TCLo) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1980 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat LD50) • brain and nervous system - Somnolence (general depressed activity) (rat LD50) • brain and nervous system - Withdrawal (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Dairy Science 1972 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • reproductive - Litter size (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1972 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • reproductive - Eye, ear (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Fetal death (rat TDLo) • developmental - Musculoskeletal system (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Post-implantation mortality (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1944 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1944 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1985 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1985 | DIMETHYL PHTHALATE | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Salmonella typhimurium ) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2008. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Evidence for human carcinogenicity based on 1986-2005 guidelines. |
| EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2005. Office of Air. The 112(b)1 Hazardous Air Pollutants List (as modified). Last modified: 12 Dec 2005. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| EPA Categorized List of Inert Pesticide Ingredients | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1987 & 2005. Office of Pesticide Programs. Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients in Pesticide Products - Categorized List of Inert (other) Pesticide Ingredients. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow) 1977 | RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow). For English translation, see PHTXA6 and RPTOAN. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.2- 40,454,1977 |
| RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow) 1977 | RTECS®- Farmakologiya i Toksikologiya (Moscow). For English translation, see PHTXA6 and RPTOAN. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.2- 1939- 40,454,1977 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1974 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 39(12),26,1974 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya 1980 | RTECS®- Gigiena Truda i Professional'nye Zabolevaniya. Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1-36, 1957-1992. For publisher information, see MTPEEI 24(3),25,1980 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Dairy Science 1972 | RTECS®- Journal of Dairy Science. (American Dairy Science Assoc., 309 W. Clark St., Champaign, IL 61820) V.1- 1917- 55,696,1972 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1972 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. (American Pharmaceutical Assoc., 2215 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037) V.50- 1961- 61,51,1972 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1944 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 1909/10- 82,377,1944 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1944 | RTECS®- Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (Williams & Wilkins Co., 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202) V.1- 82,377,1944 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1985 | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. (Hemisphere Pub., 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005) V.1- 1975/76- 16,61,1985 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 1985 | RTECS®- Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. (Hemisphere Pub., 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005) V.1- 16,61,1985 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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