EPA Determines DIDP Presents Unreasonable Risk of Injury
The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health, and the agency may propose risk management actions, it said in a notice.
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DIDP is the common chemical name for a category of chemical substances: 1,2- benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-diisodecyl ester (CASRN 26761 40-0) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C9-11-branched alkyl esters, C10-rich (CASRN 68515-49-1). Both CASRNs contain mainly C10 dialkyl phthalate esters, EPA said.
DIDP is used primarily as a plasticizer to make flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It's used in the production of building and construction materials; automotive articles; and other commercial and consumer products including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, and electrical and electronic products.
Production of DIDP has "increased significantly over the past decade," EPA said, from 100 million to 250 million pounds in 2015 to 100 million and 1 billion pounds in 2019.
EPA said it received a request in 2019 for a risk evaluation through members of the American Chemistry Council's High Phthalates Panel, which includes ExxonMobil Chemical, Evonik and Teknor Apex.
The agency conducted the final risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The evaluation utilized "the best available science," and the agency's decision to issue the unreasonable risk determination was "based on the weight of scientific evidence."