Ingredient Dictionary

DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) can cause cancer according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts.

Definition

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) can cause cancer according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts. It can cause developmental toxicity and male reproductive toxicity according to NIOSH and the FDA.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII C42K0PH13C · registered name DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Base that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENTGives the product a scentPERFUMINGKeeps a film flexiblePLASTICISERListed as a fragrance-composition material (not a claim that it adds scent)FRAGRANCE

Safety & regulatory references

Banned: Argentina · ASEAN · Brazil · Canada · China · European Union · South Korea · Taiwan · United Kingdom

Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)

Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Danger · H360 (category 1B) · H400 (category 1) · H410 (category 1)

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited substances), entry 677

Source: EU prohibited substances (Annex II)

Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist · prohibited in cosmetics

Source: Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

Restriction II/677 · Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name フタル酸ジオクチル: 本品は、フタル酸と2－エチルヘキシルアルコールのジエステルであり、次の化学式で表される。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

JCIA labelling name フタル酸ジエチルヘキシル: 本品は、フタル酸と2－エチルヘキシルアルコールのジエステルであり、次の化学式で表される。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATEINCI다이에틸헥실프탈레이트Korean label name (MFDS standard)1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-bis(2-ethylhexyl) esterSynonymフタル酸ジエチルヘキシルJapanese labelling nameフタル酸ジオクチルJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 117-81-7
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 204-211-0
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID5020607
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID70607

IUPAC: Bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
Molecular formula: C24H38O4
Molecular weight: 390.564 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid. Nearly odorless. (USCG, 1999) · Other Solid, Large Crystals, Liquid
Odour: Slight odor
Boiling point: 723 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 384 °C
Melting point: -58 °F (NTP, 1992) · -55 °C
Solubility: less than 0.1 mg/mL at 72 °F (NTP, 1992) · In water, 2.70X10-1 mg/L at 25 °C
Density: 0.98 at 77 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.981 g/cu cm at 25 °C
Stability: Stable
Viscosity: 22 cSt at 20 °C, 386 cSt at 0 °C, 5 cSt at 100 °C · 22 (20℃)
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -55 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 384 ℃
Flash point: 215 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 0.3 % (245℃)
Vapour pressure: 0.000000142 ㎜Hg (25℃)
Water solubility: 2.70X10-1 ㎎/ℓ (25℃)
Vapour density: 16
Relative density: 0.981 (25℃)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 7.6
Auto-ignition temperature: 390 ℃
Decomposition temperature: -352X10+5 (J/KG)
Molecular weight: 390.56

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 60 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Plasticizer44
Degradant/impurity (EPA)4
Fragrance4
Binder2
Adhesion/cohesion promoter1
Catalyst1
Surface modifier1
Processing aids not otherwise specified1

2 other uses

Deodorizer1
Solvent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

5 skin studies and 3 eye studies are on record.

Classed as moderate2Classed as low3

The studies disagree (the most common conclusion covers 40%), so they do not establish that this ingredient is irritating. These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 8 studies

Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Moderate or Mild Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · EPA OPP 81-5 (Acute Dermal Irritation) according to
Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Moderate or Mild Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · EPA OPP 81-4 (Acute Eye Irritation) according to