Dibutyl phthalate
Encyclopedia
Dibutyl phthalate is a commonly used plasticizer
. It is also used as an additive to adhesive
s or printing inks. It is soluble in various organic solvents, e.g. in alcohol
, ether
and benzene
. DBP is also used as an ectoparasiticide
.
under Directive 76/768/EEC 1976.
The use of DBP has been restricted in the European Union for use in children's toys since 1999.
list of suspected teratogens in November 2006. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor
. It was used in some nail polish
es; 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).
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.
The Czech manufacturer DEZA continues to produce DBP under REACh registration
(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.
during a scandal in Taiwan
. Among the kinds of foods were yoghurt powder, energy drinks, fruit jam, powder and syrup.
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.
Plasticizer
Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added; these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes the desired effects and results are...
. It is also used as an additive to adhesive
Adhesive
An adhesive, or glue, is a mixture in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. The types of materials that can be bonded are vast but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials...
s or printing inks. It is soluble in various organic solvents, e.g. in alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, ether
Ether
Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'. A typical example is the solvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as "ether"...
and benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
. DBP is also used as an ectoparasiticide
Ectoparasiticide
An ectoparasiticide is an antiparasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations.An example is lindane....
.
European Union
The use of this substance in cosmetics, including nail polishes, is banned in the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
under Directive 76/768/EEC 1976.
The use of DBP has been restricted in the European Union for use in children's toys since 1999.
United States
DBP was added to the California Proposition 65 (1986)California Proposition 65 (1986)
Proposition 65 is a California law passed by direct voter initiative in 1986 by a 63%-37% margin...
list of suspected teratogens in November 2006. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor
Endocrine disruptor
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with endocrine in animals, including humans. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders...
. It was used in some nail polish
Nail polish
Nail polish, or nail varnish, is a lacquer applied to human fingernails or toenails to decorate and/or protect the nail plate.-History:...
es; 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-butanolN-Butanol
n-Butanol or n-butyl alcohol or normal butanol is a primary alcohol with a 4-carbon structure and the molecular formula C4H9OH. Its isomers include isobutanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol...
with phthalic anhydride
Phthalic anhydride
Phthalic anhydride is the organic compound with the formula C6H42O. It is the anhydride of phthalic acid. This colourless solid is an important industrial chemical, especially for the large-scale production of plasticizers for plastics. In 2002, approximately 4.6 billion kilograms were...
. 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.
The Czech manufacturer DEZA continues to produce DBP under REACh registration
Exposure
Based on urine samples from people of different ages, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental RisksScientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks
The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks is one of the independent scientific committees managed by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission, which provide scientific advice to the Commission on issues related to consumer products.-...
(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.
Food Contamination
DHP and DEHP have been found in food as a substitute for palm oilPalm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
during a scandal in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Among the kinds of foods were yoghurt powder, energy drinks, fruit jam, powder and syrup.
Obesity
A study on CDCCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
data published in Environmental Health Perspectives, revealed that American men with abdominal obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
or insulin resistance
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a physiological condition where the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars. The resulting increase in blood glucose may raise levels outside the normal range and cause adverse health effects, depending on dietary conditions. Certain cell types...
(a precursor to diabetes) were more likely to have high levels of DEHP
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Bisphthalate, commonly abbreviated DEHP, is an organic compound with the formula C6H42. It is sometimes called dioctyl phthalate and abbreviated DOP. It is the most important "phthalate," being the diester of phthalic acid and the branched-chain 2-ethylhexanol. This colourless viscous liquid is...
and DBP metabolites in their urine than men without those problems.