Techno Bits/Technical Bulletins

In response to a petition filed under section 313(e)(1) of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the US EPA is proposing to add a diisononyl phthalate (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under EPCRA section 313 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). The US EPA is proposing to add this chemical category to the EPCRA section 313 list pursuant to its authority to add chemicals and chemical categories because EPA believes this category meets the EPCRA toxicity criterion. The proposed addition of this category is based on DINP's carcinogenicity and liver, kidney, and developmental toxicity. EPA set December 4, 2000 as the deadline for receiving comments but extended the deadline by 60 days to February 2, 2001. EPA is currently reviewing comments and expects a final response in Summer 2002.

The principle use of DINP is as a plasticizer, particularly in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The treatment of plastics with DINP provides greater flexibility and softness to the final product. Diisononyl phthalates (DINP) are the branched alkyl di-esters of 1,2- benzenedicarboxylic acid in which the alkyl ester moieties contain a total of nine carbons. They are colorless, oily liquids with high boiling points, low volatilities, and are poorly soluble in water.

Posted - Jan. 30, 2002