Phthalates

7. Is further research needed?

The production and use of DIDP and DINP are unlikely to pose a risk to the environment. In addition, risks to the function of sewage treatment plants and the atmosphere are expected to be very low for both production and use. DIDP and DINP are not considered a risk for workers or consumers, so there is at present no need for further information and/or testing and for risk reduction measures beyond those which are being applied already.

However, there would be a need for limiting the risks in case DIDP were used as a substitute for other phthalates in toys¹ . This conclusion is based on concerns regarding liver toxicity as a consequence of repeated exposure of infants and newborn babies occurring when they put toys and baby equipment into their mouth. Risk reduction measures which are already being applied shall be taken into account.

For DINP, The Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) has commented on the European Union Risk Assessment Report on DINP. It did not agree with several of the conclusions about environmental effects and considers that more research is necessary. In particular, the CSTEE considered that the following information was needed
(1) more information on transfer of DINP in the aquatic food web,
(2) better estimates of Predicted Environmental Concentration in sediment,
(3) more reliable information for estimating Predicted No Effect Concentrations in terrestrial organisms and modelling of potential concentration up the food chain,
(4) better characterisation of the risks to humans via environmental exposure, and
(5) a risk assessment on the most relevant metabolite monoisononylphthalate.

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