United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA811-F-95-003y-T
October 1995
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 117-81-7
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR:
Colorless oily liquid
SOLUBILITY: 0.285 mg/L of water at 24° C;
Slightly soluble in water
SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT:
Log Koc measured at 4 to 5; low
mobility in soil
M.P.: -50° C B.P.: 230° C (5 mm Hg) ODOR/TASTE THRESHOLDS: N/A
VAPOR PRESSURE: 1.32 mm Hg at 200° C BIOCONCENTRATION FACTOR:
Log BCF =2 to 4 in fish; expected to
bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms.
OCTANOL/WATER PARTITION (Kow):
Log Kow = 4.89
TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS:
DEHP; Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate;
BEHP; Dioctyl phthalate; Pittsburgh PX-
138; Platinol AH; RC Plasticizer OOP;
, Reomol D79P; Sicol 150; Staflex OOP;
Truflex OOP; Vestinol AH; Vinicizer 80;
Palatinol AH; Hercoflex 260; Kodaflex
OOP; Mollan O; Nuoplaz OOP; Octoil;
Eviplast 80; Fleximel; Flexol OOP;
Good-rite GP264; Hatcol OOP;
Ergoplast FDO; DAF 68; Bisoflex 81
DENSITY/SPEC. GRAV.: 0.99 at 20° C
HENRY'S LAW COEFFICIENT:
1x10^ atm-cu m/mole
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
MCLG: zero
MCL: 0.006 mg/L
HAL(child): none
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
Acute: EPA has found di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
(DEHP) to potentially cause the following health effects
from acute exposures at levels above the MCL: mild
gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, vertigo.
Chronic: DEHP has the potential to cause the
following health effects from long-term exposures at
levels above the MCL: damage to liver and testes;
reproductive effects.
Cancer; There is some evidence that DEHP may have
the potential to cause cancer from a lifetime exposure at
levels above the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
DEHP is the most commonly used of a group of related
chemicals called phthalates or phthalic acid esters.The
greatest use of DEHP is as a plasticizer for
polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other polymers including
rubber, cellulose and styrene. A number of packaging
materials and tubings used in the production of foods and
beverages, are polyvinyl chloride contaminated with
phthalic acid esters, primarily DEHP.
It is also used widely in insect repellant formulations
cosmetics, rubbing alcohol, liquid soap, detergents, deco-
rative inks, lacquers, munitions, industrial and lubricating
oils, defoaming agents during paper and paperboard
manufactures, and as pesticide carriers, in photographic
film, wire and cable, adhesives, as an organic vacuum
pump fluid, a dielectric in capacitators.
Production of DEHP increased during the 1980s, from
251 million Ibs in 1982 to over 286 million Ibs. in 1986, with
imports of 6 million Ibs. In 1986, it was estimated that
industries consumed DEHP as follows: plasticizer for
polyvinyl chloride, 95%; other uses, 5%.
Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND: 1987 TO 1993
Water
TOTALS* (in pounds) 16,910
Top Five States*
Wl 500
TN 3,491
OH 268
NJ 3,956
NY 500
Major Industries
Misc rubber products 274
Rubber, plastic hose 10
Cyclic crudes, intermed. 3,099
Land
471,191
255,000
80,419
62,982
23,139
13,284
311,900
80,019
12,200
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases
greater than 100 Ibs.
October 1995
Technical Version
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RELEASE PATTERNS
DEHP is used in large quantities, primarily as a plasti-
cizerforpolyvinyl chloride and other polymeric materials.
Disposal of these products (incineration, landfill, etc) will
result in the release of DEHP into the environment. DEHP
has been detected in the effluent of numerous industrial
plants.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemi-
cal Release Inventory, DEHP releases to land and water
totalled over 500,000 IDS., of which about 95 percent was
to land. These releases were primarily from rubber and
plastic hose industries . The largest releases (10% or
more of the total) occurred in Wisconsin and Tennessee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
DEHP released to soil will neither evaporate nor leach
into groundwater. DEHP has a strong tendency to adsorb
to soil and sediments. Calculated log Koc values of 4 to
5 have been reported. Experimental evidence demon-
strates strong partitioning to clays and sediments (log K=
4-5). Limited data is available to suggest that it may
biodegrade in soil under aerobic conditions following
acclimation.
DEHP released to water systems will biodegrade fairly
rapidly (half-life 2-3 weeks) following a period of acclima-
tion. It will also strongly adsorb to sediments (log Koc 4 to
5). Evaporation and hydrolysis are not significant aquatic
processes.
Atmospheric DEHP will be carried long distances and
be removed by rain.
DEHP does have a tendency to bioconcentrate in
aquatic organisms; the experimental BCF values range
from a log of 2 to 4 in fish and invertebrates. In fathead
minnows the log BCF was 2.93; in bluegill sunfish it was
2.06.
Human exposure will occur in occupational settings
and from air, from consumption of drinking water, food
(especially fish etc, where bioconcentration can occur)
and food wrapped in PVC, as well as during blood
transfusions from PVC blood bags.
OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
MONITORING:
FOR GROUND/SURFACE WATER SOURCES:
INITIAL FREQUENCY- 4 quarterly samples every 3 years
REPEAT FREQUENCY- If no detections during initial round:
2 quarterly per year if serving >3300 persons;
• 1 sample per 3 years for smaller systems
TRIGGERS - Return to Initial Freq. if detect at > 0.0006 mg/L
ANALYSIS:
REFERENCE SOURCE . METHOD NUMBERS
EPA 600/4-88-039 506; 525.2
TREATMENT:
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Granular Activated Charcoal
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
• EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - '800/426-4791
4 Other sources of lexicological and environmental fate data include:
• Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
• Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
October 1995
Technical Version
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