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Key Points/Overview

High phthalates include those with 7-13 carbon atoms in their chemical backbone, which gives them increased permanency and durability. Common types of high phthalates include diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP).

Uses & Benefits

Colorless, odorless high phthalates are used in a multitude of products that demand high performance, long-lasting wear and durability. High phthalates are primarily used to soften or “plasticize” vinyl, due to their strong performance, durability and stability. They are tightly bound into the structure of the vinyl and do not easily migrate out of the product or evaporate.

While they can be used in a variety of applications, different types of high phthalates are not necessarily interchangeable. The characteristics of an individual phthalate often make it well-suited to a specific product, allowing manufacturers to meet unique requirements for its use (function and safety specifications), appearance (texture, color, size and shape), durability and wear.

Foam insulation used in building and construction

Building and Construction

From energy-efficient roofing, to flexible adhesives and sealants, to durable interior finishes, high phthalates are used in building and construction applications to make a wide range of vinyl surfaces more durable and easier to maintain. Major uses of flexible PVC in buildings include: vinyl roofing membranes, resilient flooring, wall coverings, acoustical ceiling surfaces, waterproofing membranes and electrical cord insulation.

flexible wire sheathing

Wire and Cable

High phthalates are used in PVC insulation for electrical wiring that connects and supports electronic devices. For example, high phthalates may be used in the PVC that covers the electrical wiring of TVs and computers. Some of the many benefits of using high phthalates include low temperature performance, flexibility, heat resistance and electrical resistivity.

luxury car interior

Automotive

Interiors, seat covers and interior trim in automobiles use vinyl softened with high phthalates because of their durability, UV resistance and ability to withstand high temperatures. Underbody PVC coatings and components in cars help prevent corrosion from water and weather.

rain boots jumping in puddle

Outdoor Products

Because high phthalates help make flexible PVC perform well in changing weather conditions – maintaining flexibility in cold conditions and resisting degradation in high temperatures – they are found in many outside products, including swimming pool liners, garden hoses, and roofing membranes and waterproof footwear, such as rain boots.

clothing hanging in closet

Textiles

High phthalates make coated textiles used to make clothing and luggage more durable and weather resistant.

luxury interior in car

Safety Information

High phthalates, such as diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), have been thoroughly studied and reviewed by a number of government scientific agencies and regulatory bodies world-wide, which have concluded that phthalates used in commercial products do not pose a risk to human health at typical exposure levels. Information collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the last 10 years indicates that, despite the fact that phthalates are used in many products, exposure is extremely low—significantly lower than levels of concern set by regulatory agencies.

  • In 2013, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published an evaluation of possible risks associated with everyday use of DINP and DIDP by the general public. It concluded that there is no public health concern with the current uses of DINP and DIDP for children and adults in everyday consumer products or from their presence in food and household dust.
  • In 2017, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) found no health concerns from exposure to DINP and DIDP in consumer products or environmental sources like food and dust. ECCC proposed that these substances do not pose a danger to human health under current conditions. That same year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) confirmed DIDP is safe for use in toys and childcare articles, with no risk to children or pregnant women at current exposure levels.
  • In 2018, the ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee the ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee unanimously concluded that DINP did not show adverse effects on the sexual function, fertility or development of the fetus. As a result, DINP is not classified as a reproductive and developmental hazard in the European Union.
  • In early January 2025, under the Biden Administration, EPA completed risk evaluations of DINP and DIDP and concluded that uses of these chemistries regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) do not pose unreasonable risk of injury to human health for consumers or the general population, or to the environment. This safety assessment is essential for building confidence among both manufacturers and consumers.

FAQs

What are high phthalates?

High phthalate are a group of chemical compounds that are used to make a variety of products used every day by people around the world. High phthalates are used in hundreds of products in homes, hospitals, vehicles and businesses.

Are high phthalates safe?

Extensive scientific research and global regulatory reviews support the safety of high phthalates in all current consumer uses and most industrial/commercial uses. Studies show that high phthalates rapidly break down into metabolites in the body, and long-term data from the CDC confirm that overall exposure levels are extremely low—well below established safety thresholds. In early January 2025, EPA completed the manufacturer-requested risk evaluations and concluded that uses of DINP and DIDP regulated under TSCA do not pose unreasonable risk of injury to human health for consumers or the general population, or to the environment.

High phthalates provide flexibility, durability, and stability in products like conveyor belts, tubing, and gloves that may indirectly contact food during processing.

What is being done to promote food safety regarding phthalates?

Food contact materials are strictly regulated by agencies like the FDA. These agencies evaluate the safety of materials under real-world conditions, including how they are used and whether they pose any risk to consumers.

Should I be concerned about phthalates in my diet?

No. Studies and regulatory reviews show that dietary exposure to high phthalates from food contact materials is extremely low and well within safety limits.

Can people be exposed to high phthalates through plastic food wraps and containers?

Food packaging, such as takeout containers, is not “coated” with high phthalates. High phthalates are approved by several food safety regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority, for use in some food contact products, such as conveyor belts used in food processing. FDA reviews the safety of material that is intended for food contact , before these materials are allowed on the market. To learn more about plastic and chemical safety in general, click here.

Are high phthalates in toys?

In the United States, as of February 2009, three high phthalates were permanently prohibited at concentrations greater than 0.1 percent in toys and child care articles. Three other high phthalates (DINP, DIDP and Dioctyl phthalate (DnOP)) were temporarily restricted in toys that can be placed in a child’s mouth and child care articles. In 2018, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ban on DINP in toys and child care articles became permanent and was extended to all children’s toys and child care articles for concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of DINP and 7 other phthalates. CPSC removed the interim prohibition on the use of DIDP and DnOP in toys and child care articles, determining that they do not cause adverse effects on male reproductive development and that other risks attendant to their use are low.

Do high phthalates leach out of products like shower curtains and vinyl flooring?

High phthalates are chosen by manufacturers as effective plasticizers for making vinyl flexible because they do not easily migrate out of material. They are tightly held in the structure of vinyl, are odorless and have very low volatility, which means they do not readily evaporate.

Can exposure to high phthalates make you fat?

No studies have shown exposure to high phthalates causes obesity in humans.

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