U.S. EPA
Design for the Environment Program:
Partnership on Alternatives to
Certain Phthalates
Project Description and Invitation to
Participate
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning a Design for the Environment (DfE)
Alternatives Assessment under the Phthalates Chemical Action Plan1. This alternatives
assessment will help stakeholders identify safer chemicals and provides a basis for informed
decision-making by developing an in-depth comparison of potential human health and
environmental impacts of chemical alternatives. The alternatives assessment will build upon
existing knowledge with an emphasis on the potential for disproportionate impacts on children
and other sensitive sub-populations. The kick-off meeting for this partnership will take place on
August 24, 2011 in Crystal City, VA.
Background
Phthalates are used in industrial and consumer products,
primarily as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
products. They are also used in medical devices, beauty
products, textiles, paints, food packaging, dental material,
and paper. A number of phthalates have been detected in
biomonitoring surveys of human tissues, indicating
widespread human exposure (CDC 2009).
Goal
To evaluate phthalates and potential alternatives based on
a range of human health and environmental endpoints, and
provide this information to stakeholders for informed
decision making.
Examples of DfE Alternatives
Assessment Partnerships:
n Furniture Flame Retardants
n BPA Alternatives in Thermal
Paper
n Flame-Retardant Alternatives
for DecaBDE
For more information on DfE
partnership projects:
www.epa.gov/dfe/alternative asse
ssments.html
Scope
This alternatives assessment is not designed to address specific applications; rather the intent is
to identify and evaluate a wide variety of alternatives that may be appropriate substitutes for a
range of applications. Alternatives will be characterized by functional use and performance
attributes. This alternatives assessment will evaluate the following eight phthalates, two
associated chemicals and their alternatives:
Action Plan available at: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/phthalates.html
July 2011
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CASRN
84-74-2
84-69-5
85-68-7
131-18-0
117-81-7
117-84-0
28553-12-0
68515-48-0
26761-40-0
68515-49-1
CA Index Name
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
dibutyl ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
bis-(2-methylpropyl)
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1-
butyl 2- (phenylmethyl) ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylid acid, 1,2-
dipentyl ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
bis(2-eethylhexyl) ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
dioctyl ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
diisononyl ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-
C8-C10-branched alkyl esters, C9-
rich
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-
diisodecyl ester
1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-
C9-Cll-branchedalkyl esters, C10-
rich
Acronym
DBF
DIBP
BBP
DnPP
DEHP
DnOP
DINPand
associated
chemical*
DIDP and
associated
chemical*
Common Name
Dibutyl phthalate
Diisobutyl phthalate
Butyl benzyl phthalate
Di-w-pentyl phthalate
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Di-n-octyl phthalate
Diisononyl phthalate
Di-(C9-rich branched C8-C10-
alkyl) phthalate
Diisodecyl phthalate
Di-(C10-rich branched C9-C11-
alkyl) phthalate
*Each of the commercial products DINP and DIDP is a mixture of two phthalates.
Methodology
The hazard evaluations will be based on the Design for the Environment Program's Alternatives
Assessment Criteria for Hazard Evaluation2. Health and environmental profiles for each chemical
will be based on a public literature review, structure-activity relationship modeling, and, in some
cases, proprietary information shared by stakeholders. Information from the partnership will be
made available to decision-makers and the public in a manner that protects proprietary
information as necessary.
This Project IS
Voluntary
Multi-stakeholder partnership
An assessment of alternatives to the phthalates listed
above
An assessment of health and environmental
endpoints including ecotoxicity and fate in the
environment
This Project Is NOT
Regulatory
Federal Advisory Committee
Technical evaluation of the other chemical
components of PVC, medical devices, beauty
products, textiles, paints, food packaging, dental
material, paper or other materials in which phthalates
may be used
Comprehensive environmental or human health risk
assessment, or life-cycle assessment
2 Criteria available at: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/alternative_assessments.html
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Benefits
The participation of stakeholder groups will ensure that a full range of views are considered from
the start of the project, and that they are appropriately incorporated into the project objectives,
methodology, data, and implementation. Members of the partnership will contribute to a more
complete understanding of the alternatives, including their hazards, functionality, the constraints
imposed by existing plasticizer technology and opportunities for innovation. Benefits for
members of the partnership include:
• Demonstrating a commitment to environmentally responsible product development;
• Developing a good understanding of the methodology behind the data that will inform
decision-making toward safer alternatives; and
• Ensuring that the work of the partnership meets the needs of your company or organization.
Stakeholders
EPA will encourage the participation of individuals from a range of disciplines and interests to
contribute to this partnership. Those developing new technologies in the area of plasticizers are
critical members of the group.
Participants may include:
• Chemical manufacturers • Waste and recycling companies
• Manufacturers of PVC, medical devices, • Non-governmental organizations
beauty products, textiles, paints, food • Governmental agencies
packaging, dental material, paper or • Academics
other materials in which phthalates may • Trade associations
be used
Level of Commitment
In addition to the kick-off meeting, partners will participate in monthly conference calls (more
frequent in the early stages of the partnership). Also, partners provide information from their
perspective on the hazard, fate, and efficacy of alternatives, challenges associated with adopting
alternatives, and the acceptability of the alternatives in the market. They also can review draft
documents and provide feedback.
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Schedule
Outcome
Timeframe
Partnership kickoff meeting in Crystal City, VA (near Washington, DC)
August 24,
2011
Establish partnership objectives, project description and methodology, including
critical milestones, roles and responsibilities on website
October 2011
Finalize the identification of alternatives and inherently safer alternative technologies January 2012
Share evaluation of ecological and human health hazards and environmental fate of
alternatives based on confidential and unpublished data
July 2012
Share draft report for review and comment
October 2012
Finalize report and publicize results
February 2013
Joining the Partnership and Getting More Information
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to participate in the Partnership on
Alternatives to Certain Phthalates, or you would like more information, please contact Cal
Baier-Anderson of DfE, at 202.564.1933 (Baier-Anderson.Caroline@epa.gov) or Lauren
Brown of Abt Associates, at 301-347-5832 (lauren_brown@abtassoc.com).
The first stakeholder meeting will be held on August 24, 2011 in the Washington, D.C. area.
For information on the DfE Program and past DfE partnership projects, please visit the DfE
website at www.epa.gov/dfe.
July 2011
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