| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) |
131113
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| Synonyms | Dimethyl phthalate |
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1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dimethyl ester |
| Analytical Methods |
EPA Method 525 |
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EPA Method 606 |
EPA Method 625 |
EPA Method 8060 |
EPA Method 8061 |
EPA Method 8250A |
| Molecular Formula | C10H10O4 |
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| Use | SOLVENT & PLASTICIZER FOR CELLULOSE ACETATE & CELLULOSE
ACETATE-BUTYRATE COMPOSITIONS
FOR MAKING VARNISHES & CLEAR WHITE OR SLIGHTLY COLORED CLEAR
FILMS WHICH MAY BE EXPOSED TO THE SUN
IN SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS, LACQUERS, COATING AGENTS, SAFETY
GLASS, MOLDING POWDERS & PERFUMES
SINCE WORLD WAR II HAS BEEN USED EFFECTIVELY AS A MOSQUITO &
INSECT REPELLANT.
IT IS A PLASTICIZER FOR POLYVINYL ACETATE & HAS A GELLING ACTION ON
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, VINYL CHLORIDE-VINYL ACETATE COPOLYMERS,
POLYVINYL ACETAL, & POLYSTYRENE. IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH ACRYLIC RESINS
& RUBBERS, IMPROVING THEIR PLASTICITY.
PLASTICIZER FOR CELLULOSE ESTER PLASTICS
DISPERSING MEDIUM, EG, DYE CARRIER
PLASTICIZER IN HAIR SPRAY
Cosmetic ingredient.
Leech repellant.
Used in fuel matrix of double base rocket propellant, fluidized bed coating in manufacture of
poly(vinylidene fluoride); plasticizer in cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose, resins, rubber;
constituent of rubber.
AN EFFECTIVE REPELLANT FOR FLEAS & CHIGGERS.
AS REPELLANT FOR FLIES ON HORSES & COWS.
MITICIDAL AGENT FOR TREATMENT OF RICKETTSIAL INFECTIONS
APPLICATIONS (VET): OVERRATED AS A MITICIDE- CAREFUL LABEL READING
WILL OFTEN REVEAL THAT SUCH CLAIMS ARE IMPLIED ONLY & ARE
QUESTIONABLE. EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST MANGE MITES HAS ALSO BEEN
CLAIMED & QUESTIONED.
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| Consumption Patterns | USED ALMOST ENTIRELY AS A PLASTICIZER IN CELLULOSE ESTER
PLASTICS.
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| Apparent Color | OILY-LIQUID; COLORLESS VISCOUS LIQUID AT ROOM TEMP; Pale yellow
crystals
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| Odor | Slight ester odor; SLIGHT AROMATIC ODOR
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| Boiling Point | 283.7 DEG C @ 760 MM HG
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| Melting Point | 5.5 DEG C
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| Molecular Weight | 194.19
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| Density | 1.196 @ 15.6 DEG C/15.6 DEG C; 1.1940 @ 20 deg C/20 deg C; 1.189 @ 25 deg C/25
deg C
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| Sensitivity Data | Irritation of nasal passages and upper respiratory system; eye pain.
Overexposure to hot vapors or mists of dimethyl phthalate may cause irritation of the nasal
passages, mouth and throat. Eye contact with liquid dimethyl phthalate causes pain.
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| Environmental Impact | Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is released into the environment principally in industrial
wastewater from its production and use as a plasticizer and mosquito repellent. Its primary loss
mechanism appears to be biodegradation. Half-lives of 8-11 days and 0.2 days has been
determined in river water, but no half-lives are available for soil or groundwater although
dimethylphthalate is utilized by soil microorganisms and degrades under anaerobic conditions.
Little adsorption to soil or sediment will occur. Dimethyl phthalate will not bioconcentrate in fish.
If dimethyl phthalate is emitted into the atmosphere it will most likely be as an aerosol and it will
be subject to rainout and gravitational settling. Photodegradation by hydroxyl radicals will also
occur (estimated half-life 23.8 hr). Humans will be exposed to dimethyl phthalate occupationally
and from continued use of mosquito repellent.
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| Environmental Fate | TERRESTRIAL FATE: If spilled on land, dimethyl phthalate should weakly sorb to
most soils unless the soil has a very high organic content. Therefore, leaching through most soils
to groundwater is expected. It is readily biodegraded, especially after a short period of
acclimation; however, no data could be found for environmental samples.
AQUATIC FATE: If released into water, dimethyl phthalate (DMP) will primarily remain in the
water column since it weakly sorbs to soil and sediment. Biodegradation will be the principal loss
process in fresh water with a half-life of <11 days in river water. However based on concentration
measurements between sampling points on the Rhine River, the half-life was determined to be
only 0.2 days . The rate of biodegradation in sea water is much longer. Although DMP
biodegrades under anaerobic conditions, its fate in groundwater is unknown. In situations where
biodegradation is less important, other loss processes may be significant such as volatilization
(shallow oligotrophic lakes or salt water bays), hydrolysis (alkaline bodies of water), and
photolysis (clear surface waters), although data for the latter process are conflicting.
ATMOSPHERIC FATE: If released into air, dimethyl phthalate will most probably exist as an
aerosol and be subject to gravitational settling. It will be attacked by photochemically produced
hydroxyl radicals resulting in an estimated half-life of 23.8 hr.
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| Drinking Water Impact | DRINKING WATER: Detected in three New Orleans drinking water plants 0.13-0.27
ppb . Philadelphia drinking water but not quantified . Kitakyushu, Japan tap water but not
quantified . Detected in treated drinking water from 6 of 14 sites tested in England, 5 drinking
water sites were from rivers and 1 was from a groundwater source(6). SURFACE WATER:
Merrimack River, Detected, but not quantified . Rhine River at Lobith, The Netherlands 0.3
ppb(7). OTHER: Norway-detected, not quantified in the water phase of rain and snow .
EFFL: Mean effluent levels greater than 100 ppb occur from foundries (280 ppb), metal finishing
(200 ppb), and the organic chemicals manufacturing plastics (510 ppb) industries . Industries
whose maximum effluent levels exceeded 1000 ppb were: Metal finishing (1200 ppb), foundries
(3200 ppb), and nonferrous metals manufacturing (1300 ppb) . Dimethyl phthalate was not
detected in urban runoff in the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program which included 86 samples
from 19 cities across the USA . Fort Polk, La (secondary effluent) 0.77 ppb . Lake
Superior-effluent from pulp and paper mill-detected as minor component .
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