What: On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the draft risk evaluations for DiButyl Phthalate (DBP) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) for public comment.
Why: DBP and DEHP are used primarily as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as in adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, rubbers, and non-PVC plastics. EPA seeks feedback on the draft risk evaluations for both DBP and DEHP, including citations and data from all potentially impacted parties.
EPA is specifically seeking information on the following topics:
- Information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls during the manufacture, processing, and use of DBP and DEHP for each condition of use;
- Information that could be used to replace upper-bound or screening level assumptions, particularly for the conditions of use that may significantly contribute to unreasonable risk;
- Application of the Revised Draft Technical Support Document for the Cumulative Risk Analysis (CRA) within the individual chemical risk evaluations;
- The use of transcriptomics data in the weight of scientific evidence for environmental hazard assessment of DBP and the environmental hazard assessment of DEHP;
- The human health and environmental hazard endpoints used in the risk characterizations;
- Application of a flux-limited approach to estimating dermal absorption; and
- Approaches used to estimate chemical migration rate for ingestion via mouthing in the consumer exposure assessments.
Action: Comments are due on the Draft Risk Evaluation on August 5, 2025.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S)
Public Inspection [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0503 and EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0433; FRL-12808-01-OCSPP] (PDF)
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE(S)
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- dibutyl ester); TSCA Review
CONTACT:
Emily Jones
EMAIL:
TOPIC(S):
EPA
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