| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) |
85687
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| Synonyms | Butyl benzyl phthalate |
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1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl phenylmethyl 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 | C19H20O4 |
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| Use | ORGANIC INTERMEDIATE
PLASTICIZER FOR PVC-BASED FLOORING PRODUCTS, POLYVINYL ACETATE
EMULSION ADHESIVES, OTHER PLASTICS, EG, ETHYL CELLULOSE, IN COATINGS,
EG, FOR AUTOMOBILES
Plasticizer for polyvinyl and cellulose resins.
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| Consumption Patterns | ALL PHTHALATE PLASTICIZERS: 89% IN POLYVINYL CHLORIDE RESINS;
3% IN OTHER VINYL RESINS; 3% IN CELLULOSE ESTER PLASTICS; 3% IN
SYNTHETIC ELASTOMERS & OTHER POLYMERS; 2% IN OTHER APPLICATIONS
(1974). PHTHALATE ESTERS
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| Apparent Color | CLEAR, OILY LIQUID
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| Odor | SLIGHT ODOR
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| Boiling Point | 370 DEG C (698 DEG F)
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| Melting Point | -35 DEG C
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| Molecular Weight | 312.39
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| Density | 1.113-1.121 @ 25 DEG C/25 DEG C
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| Sensitivity Data | PROLONGED CONTACT WITH LIQUID CAUSES SOME IRRITATION OF EYES
& SKIN.
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| Environmental Impact | Over 100 million pounds of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) were produced in the US in
1978. BBP is used as a plasticizer for polyvinyl and cellulosic resins, primarily in poly(vinyl
chloride). Possible sources of BBP release to the environment are from its manufacture,
distribution, and PVC blending operations; however, release from consumer products is expected
to be minimal. Most BBP releases will be to soil and water and not to the air. BBP released to soil
is expected to adsorb (Koc 65-350) and not to leach extensively although it has been detected in
groundwater. BBP released to aquatic systems will adsorb to sediments and biota but will not
volatilize significantly (Henry's Law constant <1X10-6 atm/mol cu m) except under windy
conditions or from shallow rivers. Biodegradation appears to be the primary fate mechanism for
BBP. BBP is readily biodegraded in activated sludge, semicontinous activated sludge, salt water,
lake water, and under anaerobic conditions. For example, at an initial concentration of 1 mg/l in a
lake water microcosm, primary degradation accounted for >95% loss of BBP in 7 days; after 28
days, 51-65% of BBP had mineralized (ultimate degradation). Over 66,000 US workers are
potentially exposed to BBP while a larger population of the US may be exposed to lower
concentrations of BBP found in some drinking waters. .
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| Environmental Fate | TERRESTRIAL FATE: A measured soil adsorption constant for butyl benzyl phthalate
(BBP) is 68 - 350 ; thus if released to land it will sorb to soil and should not leach appreciably
although it has been detected in groundwater. The most significant fate process for BBP in soil
will be biodegradation . Because of its low volatility (8.6X10-6 mm Hg ), evaporation of
BBP from soil is not expected to be significant.
AQUATIC FATE: Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) has a log Kow of 4.77 . Thus, BBP released
to waters will partition to solids such as sediment and biota . The primary fate mechanism for
BBP will be biodegradation . At an initial concentration of 1 mg/l in a lake water microcosm,
primary degradation accounted for >95% loss of BBP in 7 days; after 28 days, 51-65% of it had
mineralized (ultimate degradation) . BBP has an estimated Henry's Law constant of <1.0X10-6
atm/mol cu m ; thus volatilization from water will not be significant except from shallow rivers
or during high wind activity(3,SRC). Photodegradation and hydrolysis will not be significant since
the half-lives for these processes are greater than 100 days .
ATMOSPHERIC FATE: Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) released to the atmosphere has an
estimated half-life of 1-5 days . However, volatilization of BBP to the atmosphere is not
expected to be a significant transport mechanism since its vapor pressure is only 8.6X10-6 mm Hg
at 20 deg C and its Henry's Law constant is <1.0X10-6 atm/mol cu m .
Aquatic Fate: the two transport mechanisms that appear to be most important for the phthalates
in the aquatic environment are adsorption onto suspended solids and particulate matter and
complexation with natural organic substances, such as fulvic acid, to form water-soluble
complexes or emulsions. Photolysis, oxidation, and hydrolysis are too slow to be environmentally
significant. The second order rate constants from the alkaline hydrolysis of a group of phthalate
esters were measured; the corresponding half-lives in neutral water ranged from 3.2 years for
dimethyl phthalate to 2,000 years for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Volatilization is not considered to
be a competitive transport process. The transport of the phthalate esters will be dependent upon
the hydrogeologic conditions of the aquatic system. Phthalate esters
Aquatic Fate: Phthalates esterified with short-chain alkyl groups, biochemical transformations
will compete with export in the ecosystems with long retention times (ie ponds or lakes). For
phthalates esterified with larger alkyl groups such as DEHP, transformation processes are slow.
Export will be the dominant process for all phthalate esters entering a river, regardless of chain
length. Phthalate esters with alkyl chains of intermediate length exhibit intermediate behavior. The
oceans may be considered the ultimate sink for phthalate esters introduced into unimpeded rivers.
/Phthalate esters
Aquatic fate: Phthalate esters have been identified in living matter, and data collected from field
and laboratory studies indicate that they can be taken up and accumulated by a variety of
organisms. The phthalates are degraded by microbiota and metabolized by fish and animals; they
are not expected to biomagnify. The highest concentrations would be expected at intermediate
levels of the food chain (eg invertebrates) rather than at the top as occurs with chemicals such as
DDT. Thus, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biodegradation are important aquatic fate
processes for phthalate esters. Phthalate esters
Atmospheric Fate: The fate of phthalate esters in air is expected to be controlled by hydroxyl
radical attack. Adsorption onto particulates and rainout are expected to be less important fate
processes. Phthalate esters
Terrestrial Fate: Little information is available on the fate of phthalate esters in soil, even though
the primary point of entry into the environment is the soil (via landfills). The migration of
phthalate esters out of plastics is slow. The amount available for transport or degradation is
expected to be low. However, the formation of soluble complexes may increase their mobility.
The phthalate esters may also be subject to biodegradation; however, the degradation rates
measured have been highly variable. Phthalate esters
It is well documented that the photolysis of hydrogen dioxide generates OH radicals which play
an important role in explaining the degradation of environmental chemicals in aqueous medium. In
the following work relative reaction rate constants of some representative substances including
diethyl phthalate were determined with wavelengths above 290 nm in the presence of hydrogen
dioxide. The results show, that the used system is suitable to check the OH radical reactivity of
organic compounds under natural conditions.
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| Drinking Water Impact | SURFACE WATER: Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) was found in the Delaware River at
0.6 ppb and at 2.4 ug/l in Mississippi River near St. Louis . BBP was also detected in Lake
Michigan water . The median BBP concentration from 1220 STORET data points was <10 ug/l
for ambient US waters . BBP concentrations in the Illinois River, the Mississippi River (below
St. Louis), and Lake Superior averaged 0.7, 0.3 and 0.3 ug/l, respectively . GROUND
WATER: Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) was detected in 5 out of 39 public water system wells in
New York State; the highest concentration found was 38 ppb (6). BBP was also detected in
groundwater near a landfill(7). DRINKING WATER: BPP was found but not quantified in
Cincinnati drinking water(8). Some maximum reported concn of BBP in drinking water were: 0.1
ppb in Philadelphia , 1.8 ug/l in New Orleans(9), and 38 ppb (well water) in New York
State(10).
Although ambient water monitoring data are limited, results suggest that ambient levels of
phthalate esters are generally less than 10 ug/l. Phthalate esters
The organic water quality throughout a poultry processing waste water treatment and renovation
system, which included several points of chlorination, was investigated. The main classes of
organic compounds identified were substituted phthalates and adipates, and (methylated) fatty
acids and their amide derivatives. Chloroform concentrations were < 8 ug/l throughout the
renovation system. Total organic halide, total organic carbon and endotoxin concentrations in the
final renovated water were slightly high when compared to typical levels occurring in finished
waters from other systems. As treatment progressed, the contribution of compounds of molecular
size > 400 daltons to organic carbon content decreased. Based on these and previous results,
there probably would be an undue health risk if the renovated water would be recycled and reused
for a trial period.
EFFL: Effluent from a sewage treatment plant contained 100 ppb butyl benzyl phthalate
(BBP) . The median BBP concentration from 1337 STORET data points was <6 ug/l for US
industrial effluents . BBP concentration was 10 ug/l in urban stormwater from Lake
Quinsigamend, MA .
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