Dibutyl phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate
Identifiers
CAS number 84-74-2 Y
PubChem 3026
ChemSpider 2918 Y
UNII 2286E5R2KE Y
EC number 201-557-4
KEGG C14214 N
RTECS number TI0875000
Properties
Molecular formula C16H22O4
Molar mass 278.34 g mol−1
Appearance Colorless oily liquid
Density 1.05 g/cm3 at 20 °C
Melting point

-35 °C, 238 K, -31 °F

Boiling point

340 °C, 613 K, 644 °F

Solubility in water 0.013 g/L
log P 4.72
Hazards
R-phrases R50 R61 R62
S-phrases S45 S53 S61
Main hazards Dangerous for the environment (N), Harmful (Xi)
NFPA 704
1
2
0
Flash point 157 °C (closed cup)
Autoignition
temperature
402 °C
Explosive limits 0.5 - 3.5%
 N (verify) (what is: Y/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a commonly used plasticizer. It is also used as an additive to adhesives or printing inks. It is soluble in various organic solvents, e.g. in alcohol, ether and benzene. DBP is also used as an ectoparasiticide.

Contents

Legislative Control

European Union

The use of this substance in cosmetics, including nail polishes, is banned in the European Union under Directive 76/768/EEC 1976.[1][2]

The use of DBP has been restricted in the European Union for use in children's toys since 1999.[3]

United States

DBP was added to the California Proposition 65 (1986) list of suspected teratogens in November 2006. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor. It was used in some nail polishes; all major producers began eliminating this chemical from nail polishes in the Fall of 2006.

DBP was permanently banned in children's toys and childcare articles, in concentrations of 1000 ppm or greater, under section 108 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).

Production

DBP is produced by the reaction of n-butanol with phthalic anhydride. It is produced domestically by Eastman Chemical Company, but they have announced that they will end production and exit the DBP and DEP (diethyl phthalate) market in December 2011.[4]

With the exodus of all domestic producers the nearest supply option for DBP for U.S. customers is Miami Chemical which imports material from their manufacturing partners located in South America.

Exposure

Based on urine samples from people of different ages, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) concluded that total exposures to individual phthalates in the general population are below tolerable daily intakes (TDI), except in the case of DBP for which efforts to further reduce exposures are needed.[5]

Food Contamination

DHP and DEHP have been found in food as a substitute for palm oil during a scandal in Taiwan. Among the kinds of foods were yoghurt powder, energy drinks, fruit jam, powder and syrup.[6]

Obesity

A study on CDC data published in Environmental Health Perspectives, revealed that American men with abdominal obesity or insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes) were more likely to have high levels of DEHP and DBP metabolites in their urine than men without those problems.[7]

See also

References

External links