Dioctyl phthalate(DEHP) is harmful to human health and can cause serious problems including hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and potential cancer. This chemical, commonly found in plastics and medical devices, has been linked to developmental problems in children and fertility issues in adults.
You’re exposed to DEHP more often than you might think. It’s in the plastic containers holding your food, the vinyl flooring in your home, and even in some medical equipment at hospitals.
Health Effects in Humans and Animals
Endocrine Disruption
DEHP acts like a hormone imposter in your body, interfering with your natural hormone systems. Think of hormones as your body’s chemical messengers—they tell different parts of your body what to do and when. When DEHP enters your system, it pretends to be these messengers, sending wrong signals that can throw everything off balance.
This disruption particularly affects testosterone and estrogen levels. In men, it can lower testosterone production, while in women, it can interfere with normal estrogen function.
Carcinogenicity
DEHP is classified as a possible human carcinogen, meaning it might cause cancer. Laboratory studies show it causes liver tumors in rats and mice when they’re exposed to high doses over their lifetime.
While we don’t have definitive proof it causes cancer in humans, the evidence is concerning enough that health agencies worldwide recommend limiting exposure. The liver appears to be the primary target organ, though some studies suggest links to other cancers too.
Reproductive Toxicity
DEHP damages reproductive systems in both males and females, but the effects on males are particularly well-documented. It reduces sperm quality, lowers sperm count, and can even cause testicular damage.
In females, DEHP exposure can lead to early menopause and fertility problems. Women with higher levels of DEHP in their bodies often have more difficulty getting pregnant and maintaining pregnancies.
Developmental Effects
Unborn babies and young children face the greatest risks from DEHP exposure. When pregnant women are exposed to DEHP, it crosses the placenta and affects the developing baby.
Boys exposed to DEHP in the womb may be born with genital abnormalities or have problems with normal sexual development during puberty. Girls may experience early puberty, which increases their lifetime risk of breast cancer.
Children exposed to DEHP also show higher rates of allergies, asthma, and behavioral problems like ADHD. Their developing bodies can’t process and eliminate DEHP as efficiently as adults, making them more vulnerable to its effects.
Sources of Exposure to DEHP
Ingestion
Eating contaminated food is the main way DEHP enters your body. When food touches plastic packaging containing DEHP, especially fatty foods or when heated, the chemical migrates from the plastic into what you eat.
Children face higher exposure through ingestion because they often put toys and other plastic items in their mouths. Dust contaminated with DEHP also settles on surfaces and food, adding to the total amount consumed.
Inhalation
You breathe in DEHP that’s released from vinyl flooring, wall coverings, and other plastic products in your home. As these products age and break down, they release DEHP particles into the air.
Car interiors are another major source—that “new car smell” partly comes from DEHP and other chemicals off-gassing from plastic dashboards and seats. On hot days, the concentration of DEHP in car air can spike dramatically.
Dermal Contact
Your skin absorbs DEHP when you touch products containing it. Personal care products like nail polish, perfumes, and hair sprays often contain DEHP to help fragrances last longer and improve texture.
Children absorb DEHP through their skin when playing on vinyl flooring or handling plastic toys. The absorption increases when skin is wet or damaged, as the protective barrier is compromised.
Medical Exposure
Medical devices like IV bags, blood bags, and tubing often contain high levels of DEHP. Patients receiving intensive medical treatments, especially premature infants in neonatal intensive care units, can receive doses of DEHP many times higher than the general population.
Dialysis patients face particularly high exposure because their blood repeatedly contacts DEHP-containing tubing during treatment. A single dialysis session can expose a patient to as much DEHP as an average person encounters in months.
Blood transfusions and heart bypass procedures also result in significant DEHP exposure, as the chemical leaches directly into the bloodstream from medical equipment.
Environmental Impact of DEHP
Persist in the Environment
DEHP doesn’t break down quickly once it enters the environment. It sticks to soil particles and sediments in rivers and lakes, where it can remain for years or even decades.
This persistence means DEHP accumulates in places where plastic waste concentrates. Landfills become long-term sources of DEHP contamination, slowly releasing the chemical into groundwater and surrounding soil.
Rain washes DEHP from streets and buildings into waterways, where it settles into sediments. Bottom-feeding fish and other aquatic life then ingest these contaminated sediments, spreading DEHP through the food chain.
Bioaccumulative Potential
While DEHP doesn’t build up in animal tissues as much as some other pollutants, it still accumulates enough to cause problems. Animals higher up the food chain, including humans, end up with more DEHP in their bodies than those lower down.
Fish-eating birds and mammals show higher DEHP levels than the fish they eat. This concentration effect means top predators face greater health risks from DEHP exposure.
The chemical also affects wildlife reproduction and development, just as it does in humans. Fish exposed to DEHP produce fewer offspring, and amphibians can develop physical abnormalities that affect their survival.
FAQs
What products contain the most DEHP?
Soft, flexible PVC plastics contain the highest DEHP levels—up to 40% by weight. This includes shower curtains, vinyl flooring, food packaging, and children’s toys made before regulations limited DEHP use.
How can I reduce my exposure to DEHP?
Choose glass or stainless steel containers for food storage, never microwave plastic, and select DEHP-free personal care products. Dust and vacuum regularly, and ensure good ventilation in your home to reduce airborne DEHP.
Are there safer alternatives to DEHP?
Yes, manufacturers now use alternatives like DINP, DIDP, and bio-based plasticizers. While these aren’t perfect, they’re generally considered less harmful than DEHP, especially for children’s products and food packaging.
How long does DEHP stay in the human body?
DEHP breaks down quickly in your body, with most eliminated within 24-48 hours through urine. However, because we’re constantly exposed to new sources, most people always have some DEHP in their system.
Which populations are most at risk from DEHP?
Pregnant women, developing fetuses, infants, and young children face the highest risks. Medical patients receiving intensive treatments and workers in plastics manufacturing also experience above-average exposure levels that increase health risks.
Is dioctyl phthalate a carcinogen?
Dioctyl phthalate (also known as DEHP or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This means there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans but sufficient evidence in laboratory animals.