National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
Phthalates
CDC National Center for Environmental Health 21mar01
This is one section of four including Metals, Tobacco Smoke, Organophosphate Pesticides, and Phthalates [Complete List Below]
General Information Phthalates
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Centers for
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Phthalates are industrial chemicals commonly found in many consumer products including, vinyl flooring and wall covering, detergents, lubricating oils, solvents, food packaging, and personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, hair sprays and nail polish. Other phthalates are used in flexible plastics like blood bags, tubing or children's toys, and in some pharmaceutical and pesticide formulations.
Animal studies have found that some phthalates given at very high doses to animals during pregnancy produce birth defects among offspring (1, 2). Table 2 shows the relation between phthalates and their metabolites and also includes their commonly used abbreviations.
Mono-ethyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to diethyl phthalate will excrete mono-ethyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-ethyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with diethyl phthalate has occurred. Diethyl phthalate is an industrial solvent used in many consumer products, particularly those containing fragrances. Products that may contain diethyl phthalate include perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, and hand lotion. It was detected at levels ranging from 176.0 micrograms per liter of urine at the 10th percentile up to 1,150 micrograms per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
Mono-butyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to dibutyl phthalate will excrete mono-butyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-butyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with dibutyl phthalate has occurred. Dibutyl phthalate is an industrial solvent used in many consumer products. Products that may contain dibutyl phthalate include nail polishes, cosmetics, and insecticides. It was detected at levels ranging from 26.7 micrograms per liter of urine at the 10th percentile up to 98.5 micrograms per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
Mono-benzyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to benzylbutyl phthalate will excrete mono-benzyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-benzyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with benzylbutyl phthalate has occurred. Benzylbutyl phthalate is an industrial solvent used in many consumer products such as adhesives, sealants, cosmetics, and car-care products.
Mono-cyclohexyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to dicyclohexyl phthalate will excrete mono-cyclohexyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-cyclohexyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with dicyclohexyl phthalate has occurred. Dicyclohexyl phthalate is used primarily in research laboratories. It was below the level of detection at the 10th percentile, and less than 1.00 microgram per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to diethylhexyl phthalate will excrete mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with diethylhexyl phthalate has occurred. Diethylhexyl phthalate is primarily used to produce flexible plastics, such as PVC tubing and blood bags. Diethylhexyl phthalate has been removed from most children's toys and food packaging in the United States, but some manufacturers refuse to use a safer replacement. It was detected at levels ranging from 3.5 micrograms per liter of urine at the 10th percentile up to 13.6 micrograms per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
Mono-n-octyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to dioctyl phthalate will excrete mono-n-octyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-n-octyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with dioctyl phthalate has occurred. Dioctyl phthalate is primarily used to produce flexible plastics. It was below the level of detection at the 10th percentile and was detected at 1.9 micrograms per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
Mono-isononyl phthalate. [Results] People exposed to diisononyl phthalate will excrete mono-isononyl phthalate in their urine. The amount of mono-isononyl phthalate is an indicator of how much contact with diisononyl phthalate has occurred. Diisononyl phthalate is primarily used to produce flexible plastics. Diisononyl phthalate is actually a mixture of many compounds. These compounds are produced with side alkyl chains of C8, C9, and C10 isomers. It was below the level of detection at the 10th percentile, and was detected at 4.3 micrograms per liter of urine at the 90th percentile
References
1. Mylchreest E, Cartley RC, Foster PMD. Male reproductive tract malformations in rats following gestational and lactational exposure to dibutyl phthalate: An antiandrogenic mechanism? Toxicol Sci 1998;43: 47-60.
2. Thomas JA, Thomas MJ. Biological effects of diethylhexyl phthalate and other phthalic acid esters. Crit Rev Toxicol 1984;13: 283-317.
Method for Metal Analysis Blount BC, Milgram KE, Silva M, Malek N, Reidy J., Needham LL, Brock JW. Quantitative detection of eight phthalate metabolites in human urine using HPLC-APCI-MS/MS. Anal Chem 2000;72: 4127-34.
More Information
ToxFAQs are available for diethylhexyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate; see the ATSDR ToxFAQs. For information related to toxicology and health-risk information, please see the following related links: ATSDR ToxFAQs: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for Chemical Hazards: www.cdc.gov/niosh/81-123.html National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens: http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/roc EPA Integrated Risk-Information System (IRIS): www.epa.gov/iris/ International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS): www.who.int/pcs
Chemfinder: www.chemfinder.com Material Safety Data Sheets: www.hazard.com/msds/index.html Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
This page last reviewed March 21, 2001 For more information about the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals please contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Environmental Health Division of Laboratory Sciences Mail Stop F-20 4770 Buford Highway, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724 Telephone (toll-free): 1-866-670-6052 E-mail: ncehdls@cdc.gov
Interpretation of the phthalate metabolite levels
Urine levels of phthalates were measured in a subsample of NHANES participants 6 years and older, selected to be representative of the U.S. population. Measurement of phthalate metabolites at these levels in urine is possible because of advances in analytical chemistry. Finding a measurable amount of one or more phthalate metabolites in urine does not mean that the level of one or more phthalates causes an adverse health effect. Whether phthalates at the levels of metabolites reported here are a cause for health concern is not yet known; more research is needed.
These levels of phthalate metabolites in urine provide physicians with a reference range so that they can determine whether people have been exposed to higher levels of phthalates than those experienced in the general population. These data will also assist scientists in planning and conducting research on phthalate exposure and health effects.
Mono-ethyl phthalate CAS no. 2306-33-4
(metabolized from Diethyl phthalate, CAS no. 84-66-2)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and
creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and
older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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Numbers in parentheses are 95% confidence intervals.
Mono-butyl phthalate CAS no. 131-70-4
(metabolized from Dibutyl phthalate, CAS no. 84-66-2)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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Numbers in parentheses are 95% confidence intervals.
Mono-benzyl phthalate CAS no. 2528-16-7
(metabolized from Benzylbutyl phthalate, CAS no. 85-68-7)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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Numbers in parentheses are 95% confidence intervals.
Mono-cyclohexyl phthalate CAS no. 7517-36-4
(metabolized from Dicyclohexyl phthalate, CAS no. 84-61-7)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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** less than the limit of detection of 0.7 µg/L urine.
Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate CAS no. 4376-20-9
(metabolized from Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate CAS no. 117-81-7)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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** less than the limit of detection of 1.2 µg/L urine.
Numbers in parentheses are 95% confidence intervals.
Mono-n-octyl phthalate CAS no. 5393-19-1
(metabolized from Dioctyl phthalate CAS no. 117-84-0)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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** less than the limit of detection of 0.9 µg/L urine.
Numbers in parenthesis are 95% confidence intervals.
Mono-isononyl phthalate
(metabolized from Di-isononyl phthalate CAS no. 28553-12-0)
Geometric mean and selected percentiles of urine concentrations and creatinine-adjusted levels for the U.S. population aged 6 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999.
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** less than the limit of detection of 0.8 µg/L urine.
Numbers in parenthesis are 95% confidence intervals.
List of Chemicals Included in CDC Report [Complete Index on CDC Website]
Metals
Lead CAS no. 7439-92-1
Mercury CAS no. 7439-97-6
Cadmium CAS no. 7440-43-9
Cobalt CAS no. 7440-48-4
Uranium CAS no. 7439-97-6
Antimony CAS no. 7440-36-0
Barium CAS no. 7440-39-3
Beryllium CAS no. 7440-41-7
Cesium CAS no. 7440-46-2
Molybdenum CAS no. 7439-98-7
Platinum CAS no. 7440-06-4
Thallium CAS No. 7440-28-0
Tungsten CAS no. 7440-33-7
Tobacco Smoke
Cotinine CAS no. 486-56-6
Organophosphate pesticides
Dimethylphosphate CAS no. 813-78-5
Dimethylthiophosphate NO CAS # ON CHEMFINDER.COM
Dimethyldithiophosphate CAS no. 756-80-9
Diethyl phosphate CAS no. 598-02-7
Diethyl thiophosphate CAS no. 5871-17-0
Diethyl dithiophosphate CAS no. 298-06-6
Phthalates
Mono-ethyl phthalate CAS no. 2306-33-4
Mono-butyl phthalate CAS no. 131-70-4
Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate CAS no. 4376-20-9
Mono-n-octyl phthalate CAS no. 5393-19-1
Mono-isononyl phthalate
Mono-cyclohexyl Phthalate CAS no. 7517-36-4
Mono-benzyl Phthalate CAS no. 2528-16-7
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