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Information
on our 3-level structure
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Introduction: What are phthalates?
Phthalates
are widely used as additives in a range
of plastics and other materials that are
found in many consumer products. They
make plastics, such as PVC,
soft and flexible. They are not chemically
bound to plastics, so they can be released
from consumer products into the environment.
There is public concern about phthalates
because of their widespread use and occurrence
in the environment as well as their potential
effects on human health.
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There
is a wide range of different phthalates,
which each have specific properties,
uses, and health effects. In the
European Union, five of the most
widely used phthalates are currently
being reviewed by the European
Chemicals Bureau (DEHP,
DBP,
DINP,
DIDP,
and BBP).
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Figure:
Consumption of main phthalates |
So far, EU
Risk Assessment Reports have only been
published for three of these phthalates
which are addressed in this study: DIDP,
DINP,
and DBP.
Because of the strong similarities between
the first two, they will be described
together in this study. More...
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 1.
What are the properties of dibutyl phthalate
(DBP)?
DBP
is a phthalate
with the same core structure as DIDP
and DINP
but with two shorter side chains attached,
each having four carbon atoms. It is an
oily liquid that is soluble
in fat and to some extent in water. More...
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2.
How is DBP used?
DBP
has been produced for more than 40 years.
In 1998, around 26 000 tonnes
were produced annually in the European
Union but (in contrast to DIDP
and DINP)
its production is going down. Like DIDP
and DINP, it is used mainly as a plasticiser
in PVC
that is used to make, film, sheeting,
coated products, flooring, roofing, wall
coverings, hoses, tubing, wires, cables,
injection moulded shoe soles, car undercoating
and sealants.
Non-PVC uses are in adhesives, sealants,
paints, printing inks, lubricants, nail
polish, and perfumes, as a suspension
agent for solids in aerosols
and in preventing foaming. More...
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3.
Can DBP affect the environment?
3.1
DBP
as free chemical does not break down in
water but does break down in soil. More...
3.2 DBP can be released at different
stages: production,
distribution, processing, use, incineration
and disposal.
3.3
High DBP concentrations
in the environment are mostly found near
by production and processing sites in
waste
water and nearby surface
water. DBP is also found in sediment
and soil, and in aquatic and soil-dwelling
organisms near to sources. The highest
levels in air occur around PVC
processing plants. More...
3.4
When DBP is present, it does not
appear to have adverse effects on most
organisms in the environment. It is not
toxic
to microbes,
plants or animals living in water, or
to earthworms and flies. On land, plants
can be adversely affected by DBP present
in the atmosphere.
More...
3.5 The European Union Risk Assessment
Report (the source of the present summary)
concluded that predicted concentrations
in air around DBP production facilities
could affect plant life and that further
risk
reduction measures need to be taken. More...
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4.
How can humans be exposed to DBP?
Exposure
of humans may occur from DBP
present in the environment, workplace
or consumer products.
4.1
The highest exposures can occur in workplaces
where DBP or DBP-containing products are
produced or used. Workers are mainly exposed
through the air they breathe or through
skin contact. More...
4.2
Exposure of the general public
is much lower and can occur through consumer
products and food packaging containing
DBP. Exposure of children can occur through
plastic toys and baby equipment. More...
4.3
For the general public, the total
daily intake through air, drinking water
and food is estimated to be low including
around local production and use sites.
DBP has been identified in breast milk
at relatively low concentrations.
More...
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5.
What health effects can DBP cause
in laboratory animals?
DBP
is well absorbed
by the body following ingestion
or contact with the skin. The extent
of absorption when DBP is breathed
in is not known but it is likely
to be well absorbed. In laboratory
animals (as for DIDP and DINP)
DBP mainly affects the liver but
humans are thought to be much less
sensitive to these liver effects.
DBP also reduces the number and
birth weight of rat offspring. Studies
on developing rats show that DBP
adversely affects development of
the reproductive system in males.
It also affects the nasal cavity
in rats when DBP is breathed in.
More...
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6.
Does DBP pose risks to human health?
Human exposures
are compared with the lowest amounts needed
to cause effects in laboratory animals
to determine the margin of safety.
6.1
Workers are considered to be at
risk
in some situations including repeated
breathing in of DBP
during the production or use of products
containing DBP and repeated skin exposure
during the use of products containing
DBP in situations where DBP is formed
as an aerosol.
It is concluded that in
these situations there is a need for risk
reduction measures but it is noted that
adequate worker protection may already
be in place in some industrial premises.
6.2
Exposure
of the general public is lower than that
of workers, and adults, newborns, infants
and children are not considered to be
at risk. This conclusion applies not only
to general exposure via the environment
and food but also to specific scenarios
such as regular use of nail polish or
DBP-containing adhesives and infants exposed
to PVC
toys and baby equipment. More...
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7.
Is further research needed?
It is concluded that:
- there is no need for
further information or testing on DBP,
but
- adequate worker protection
is needed in workplaces involved in
DBP production or use of products containing
DBP, and
- releases of DBP into
air by production sites should be reduced
in order to protect plants. More...
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Conclusions
Phthalates
have played an important role in the creation
of plastics and other materials that have
many versatile uses in industry, in medicine
and in consumer products.
In view of
more recent research and raising concerns
about possible environmental and health
effects, the risks of exposure
to phthalates are being kept under close
review by national and international bodies.
The most
recent EU reviews on DIDP, DINP and DBP
conclude that:
- more research may be necessary on
the environmental effects of DIDP and
DINP;
- DIDP in toys may pose a risk;
- in some workplaces, exposure to DBP
should be reduced;
- release of DBP in to the air from
some workplaces should be reduced.
Other phthalates
are currently being assessed by the European
Chemicals Bureau.
GreenFacts
comment:
Other
EU reviews are currently underway and
the information will be posted on this
website as soon as it becomes available:
- DEHP
(Di-Ethyl-Hexyl-Phthalate) the most
commonly used phthalate
- the use of phthalates in food packaging
materials
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