United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003 y-C
October 1995
&EPA
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Phthalate, di (2-ethylhexyl)
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
MCL:
ZERO
6 PPB
WHAT is
PHTHALATE
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY is PHTHALATE
BEING REGULATED?
WHAT ARE THE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, or 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.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work. ,
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely
on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum
Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for phthalate has been set at zero because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of the
potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard
called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as
close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of
public water systems to detect and remove contaminants
using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 6 parts per billion (ppb) because
EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is
the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be
required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking
water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for
ensuring these standards are met, are called National Primary
Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies must
abide by these regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found phthalate to potentially cause
the following health effects when people are exposed to it at
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
DEHP
BEHP
. DlOCTYL PHTHALATE
PITTSBURGH PX-138
PLATINOL AH
RC PLASTICIZER
OOP
REOMOL D79P
Sicou150
STAPLE* 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
DAF68
BlSOFLEx81
October 1995
Consumer Version
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
levels above the MCL for relatively short
periods of time: mild gastrointestinal dis-
turbances, nausea, vertigo.
Long-term : Phthalate has the potential
tô caUse the followho effects from a lifetime
exposure at levels above the MCL: damage
to liver and testes; reproductive effects;
: cancer.
Disposal of polyvinyl chloride and Other
DEHP-containing materials by 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 Chemical Release Inventory, DEHP
releases to land and water totalled over 500,009 Ibé., of which about 95 percent
was to land. These releases were primarily from rubber and plastic hose
industries. The largest releases occurred in Wisconsin and Tennessee.
DEHP will adhere tosoil, and so will neither evaporate nor leach into ground-
water. DEHP has a strong tendency to adsorb to soil and sediments. In water, it.
will be degraded by microbes in. a matter of weeks. DEHP does have a tendency
to accumulate in aquatic organisms.
The regulation for phthalate became effective in 1994. Between 1993 and .1995,
EPA required your water supplierto collect water samples every 3 months for o
year and analyze them tQ find out if phthálate is present above 0.6 ppb. If it is
present above this level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant;
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the. MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of phthalate so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA
for removing phthalate: Granular activated charcoal.
If the levels of phthalate exceed the MCL, 6 ppb, the system must notify the
public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as
providing alternative drinking water supplies,. may be required to prevent serious
risks to public health.
How MUCH PHTHALATE
IS PRODUCED AND.
RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
WHATHAPPENS TO
PHTHALATE
WHEN IT IS RELEASED To
THE ENVIRONMENT?
How IWLL
PHTHALATE
BE DETECTED IN AND
REMOVED FROM
Mv DRINKING. WATER?
How WILL I KNOW IF
PHTHAL.ATE IS IN MY
DRINKING WATER?
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water . . Land
TOTALS (in pounds) 16,910 471,191
Top Five Stales*
Wi 500 255,000
TN 3,491 80,419
OH 268 62,982
NJ 3,956 . 23,139
NY 500 13,284
Major Industries
Misc rubber products 274 311.900
Rubber, plastic hose 10 80,019
Cyclic crudes, intermed. 3,099 12,200
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with
releases greater than 100 lbs.
earn more about your drinking water!
PA strongly encourages people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
it their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
otect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking For help in locating these agencies or for information on
ter. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call:
ment listings are a good starting point. . EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-479 .
Your local water supplier can give you.a list of the
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how
your water is treated.
For additiOnal information on the uses and releases of
chemicals in your state, contact the:
Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202:
October 1995
Consumer Version
Page 2
------- |