The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the meeting minutes and final report from the July 30-August 1, 2024, Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) virtual public meeting regarding the 2024 draft Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation for di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and the hazard analysis supporting the draft risk evaluation for di-isononyl phthalate (DINP). Information on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluations for DIDP and DINP, as posted on the agency’s website on October 2, is found below.  

Information on EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluations for DIDP and DINP

The primary uses of DIDP and DINP under TSCA are use as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in consumer, commercial, and industrial applications. DIDP is used to make building and construction materials; automotive and fuel products; and other commercial and consumer products including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, and electrical and electronic products. DINP is used primarily as a plasticizer to manufacture flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also used to make building and construction materials; automotive and fuel products; and other commercial and consumer products including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, electrical and electronic products. 

In the May 2024 draft risk evaluation for DIDP, EPA preliminarily found that only one of the 47 uses of this chemical that EPA evaluated under TSCA contributes to unreasonable risk to human health. EPA found that DIDP has the potential to cause developmental toxicity and harm the liver. In the draft risk evaluation, EPA preliminarily determined that DIDP poses unreasonable risk of injury to human health to workers exposed to the chemical through spraying adhesives and sealants that contain DIDP with high-pressure sprayers, because doing so could create high concentrations of DIDP in mist that an unprotected worker could inhale. EPA also preliminarily determined that DIDP does not pose unreasonable risk of injury to human health for consumers or the general population or pose unreasonable risk to the environment.

Following the SACC meeting, EPA released its draft risk evaluation for DINP for public comment in August 2024. The comment period will close on November 4, 2024. EPA preliminarily determined that 42 out of 47 conditions of use of DINP do not contribute significantly to the unreasonable risk. The agency preliminarily found that one consumer use of DINP significantly contributes to unreasonable risk: the use of DINP in floor coverings and construction and building materials covering large surface areas, such as vinyl flooring, in-place wallpaper, and carpet backing. This use significantly contributes to the unreasonable risk of DINP to infants, toddlers, and preschool children under the age of five due to exposure to dust containing DINP that migrated from these materials via the air, direct contact, or both. EPA also preliminarily found that two occupational conditions of use significantly contribute to the unreasonable risk to workers: using spray adhesives and sealants or paints and coatings that contain DINP with high-pressure sprayers. Using these sprayers at a high pressure could create high concentrations of DINP in mist that an unprotected worker could inhale. EPA was not able to identify products containing DINP that are currently used in high-pressure spray applications and expects that public comments on this draft will help address this uncertainty.    

Information on the SACC Peer Review

EPA released its draft risk evaluation for DIDP and hazard analysis supporting the draft risk evaluation for DINP for public comment and peer review in May 2024. The meeting minutes and final report are available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0073 on regulations.gov and through the SACC webpage for the DIDP and DINP meeting. EPA is in the process of reviewing feedback from the meeting and will use this feedback, along with feedback received from the public, to inform the final risk evaluations for DIDP and DINP.   

The SACC serves as a scientific peer review mechanism of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. It provides independent scientific advice and recommendations to EPA on the scientific basis for risk assessments, methodologies and pollution prevention measures and approaches for chemicals regulated under TSCA.  

For additional information, contact the Designated Federal Official, Dr. Alaa Kamel at kamel.alaa@epa.gov.  Learn more about the EPA at www.epa.gov.