Dimethyl phthalate – inhalable fraction. Documentation
Journal Title: Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy - Year 2013, Vol 29, Issue 4
Abstract
Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is a colorless, oily liquid with a faint aromatic odor.It is used in the chemical industry (manufacture of dyes, varnishes) and cosmetics (perfume, bubble bath, etc.) as a plasticizer (e.g., cellulose acetale) and an insecticide. According to the Chief Sanitary Inspector in 2010, nobody was employed at workstations where phthalate concentrations exceeded 5 mg/m[sup]3[/sup] (TWA) and 10 mg/m[sup]3[/sup] (STEL). Phthalate esters are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneal cavity, lung and skin. DMP after absorption is metabolized to a monomethyl derivative and free phthalic acid, which are excreted mainly in the urine. Despite the wide use of DMP (mainly as a repellent), in the available literature, there are only few reports on the toxic effects of this compound on humans. Acute toxicity studies in animals show a large spread in the values of DMP lethal doses. Based on these data, DMP is considered to be a compound of low acute toxicity. The most common symptoms that occur after repeated exposure of animals to DMP are reduced weight gain, increased relative and absolute liver weight, liver and kidney damage. The results of experiments carried out in vitro and in vivo indicate that DMP does not show genotoxicity. Prenatal exposure of animals revealed that DMP is not embryotoxic. Also on the basis of results obtained from experiments on carcinogenicity, DMP is not regarded as a carcinogenic substance. According ACGIH (2006), TLV-TWA of 5 mg/m[sup]3[/sup] provides adequate protection against potential systemic effects of exposure to DMP. The authors did not find any literature suggesting the need to change the current values of TWA and STEL for dimethyl phthalate. The recommended 8-hour TWA for dimethyl phthalate is 5 mg/m[sup]3[/sup], inhalable fraction. Due to the poor absorption of the skin and weak fetotoxicity, there is no basis for labels “Sk “(a substance that is absorbed through the skin) or “F” (a substance toxic to the fetus).
Authors and Affiliations
JADWIGA SZYMAŃSKA, ELŻBIETA BRUCHAJZER
Keywords
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