ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON USING

PLASTICIZERS
CHE LAWS, CODES AND ETHICS

SUBMITTED BY:
ROGELIO A. LAWAYAN
CH51FC1
 Plasticizers and their Human Health and Environmental Concerns
PLASTICIZERS Function/Product
ATBC: Primarily used as a
Acetyl tributyl plasticizer in cosmetic
citrate products, toys, vinyl,
adhesives, medical devices,
pharmaceutical tablet
coatings, food packaging,
flavoring substance in
foods, printing inks and
plastics in concrete.
Also used as a surface
lubricant in the
manufacture of metallic
articles that contact food
DINCH: Primarily used as a
Di-isononyl- plasticizer in PVC medical
cyclohexane-1, 2- devices (blood tubes or
dicarboxylate packaging for nutrient
solutions), toys, food
packaging, cosmetics
products, shoes, exercise
mats and cushions, textile
coatings, printing inks
PLASTICIZERS Function/Product
DOTP: Dioctyl Primarily used as a Slightly irritating to eyes but
terephthalate plasticizer for PVC toys,
childcare articles, consumer
products, beverage closures
and other polymer materials
including cellulose acetate-
butyrate, cellulose nitrate,
and chloroprene rubbers
Environmental
Concerns
Human Health Concerns
Intravenous exposure affects Can bioaccumulate
the central nervous system and is inherently
and blood in laboratory biodegradable (in an
animals. May have moderate inherent
irritation effects on eyes and biodegradation test,
increase liver weights Studies 80 percent was
show that it inhibits the degraded). However,
proliferation of Lymph Node T in a nonstandard test
cells aerobic degradation
Exhibits fire and explosive was slow and no
hazard in the presence of data is available on
strong oxidizers and nitrates anaerobic
degradation
Acute toxicity effect is low. No data found
However, an increase in testes regarding effects of
weight, liver weight, thyroid environmental
weight, serum gamma exposures.
glutamyl transferase and
thyroid-stimulating hormone
was observed in laboratory
animals after repeated
exposure. blood and
transitional epithelium cells in
urine was also observed
Environmental
Concerns
Human Health Concerns
Potential for
will not damage eyes. bioconcentration in
Prolonged exposure may aquatic organisms is
cause dermatitis. Studies low. Likely to be
involving rodents showed biodegradable under
inflammatory damage to the aerobic and
kidneys anaerobic conditions
ESBO: Epoxidized Primarily used as a
soybean oil plasticizer in closure gaskets
used to seal glass jars, and
as a stabilizer to minimize
the ultraviolet degradation
of PVC resins baby food jars,
fillers, paint and lacquers,
adhesives, printing inks, and
packaging
A worker developed asthma Toxic to the
from exposure to vapors from crustacean Daphnia
heated PVC film. Vapor may magna. Estimated to
also produce asthmatic be bioaccumulative.
symptoms in as little as 5 Two standard tests
minutes administered by
Studies involving rats have OECD concluded it is
reported skin and eye biodegradable in
irritations, secondary agent in aerobic
bronchospastic reaction. environments
Suspected to cause some
effects on the kidney, liver,
testis and uterus by repeated
oral administration

Mesamoll II: Used as a plasticizer in PVC, Has not been comprehensively No data found
alkylsulphonic polyurethanes, natural studied for toxic effects. regarding effects of
phenyl ester rubber, styrene-butadiene environmental
(ASE) rubber, blends of styrene exposures.
butadiene rubber and
butadiene rubber,
isobutylene isoprene
rubber, acrylonitrile
butadiene rubber, and
chloroprene rubber

TETM: Primarily used for heat-
Tri-2-ethylhexyl resistant PVC articles,
trimellitate PVC-products used in the
hospital sector (blood
platelet bags), packing,
cables, profiles, and floor/
wall coverings
May cause irritation, nausea
and vomiting in humans from
exposure to mists and fumes.
Toxic to laboratory animals
through inhalation. Shown to
irritate the skin of guinea pigs,
rabbits and mice and the eyes
of rabbits. Studies in dogs
showed an increase in weight
of liver and spleen.
In rats, exposure through diet
resulted in slightly increased
liver weights and peroxisome
proliferation
Very limited data on
environmental
effects is available.
Potential for
environmental
effects is associated
with the
accumulation of the
compound in biota,
in aquatic sediments
and in soils treated
with sewage sludge.
Available data
indicate that it does
not biodegrade
readily

COMGHA: Used in PVC-containing No data found describing No data found

Acetylated films, tubes, bottles, food human exposure. regarding potential
monoglycerides of packaging materials and Slightly lower migration rate environmental
fully hydrogenated other polymers such as was found when compared to effects.
castor oil polyolefin, styrene, and PET DEHP

PLASTICIZERS Function/Product
Eastman 168: bis(2- Used as a plasticizer in PVC
ethylhjexyl)-1, 4- toys, bottle caps and
benzenedicarboxylate closures, coatings for cloth,
electric connectors, flexible
film, pavement, striping
compounds, walk-off mats,
sheet vinyl flooring, other
vinyl products, and PVC/VA
copolymer resins.
DEHA: Used as a plasticizer in toys, Slightly toxic when
Di(2-ethyl hexyl) vinyl flooring, wire and
adipate cable, stationery, wood
veneer, coated fabrics,
gloves, tubing, artificial
leather, shoes, sealants,
and carpet backing.
Also used in films employed
in food packaging materials,
fillers, paint and lacquers,
adhesives, plastic in
concrete, and rubber
products. Expected to be
widely used in the near
future in products for the
hospital sector, printing inks
and other PVC products
DBA: Primarily used as a
Di-butyl adipate plasticizer for resins. Also
used in floor wax
BHT: Butylated Used in childcare articles
hydroxytoluene intended to be mouthed
such as teething products
and as an antioxidant in
EVA and polyethylene
plastics. Also used as a food
additive
HPCL: Hyperbranched Intended primary use is in
poly (-caprolactone) PVC applications including
coating resins, polymer
additive, adhesive agents,
and processing aids
Environmental
Concerns
Human Health Concerns
No data found. No data found
regarding potential
environmental
effects.
Toxic to algae,
administered intravenously in crustaceans and fish.
animal studies. Chronic data on
May produce dose-dependent crustaceans show
changes in the body. adverse effects on
Reported to cause liver reproduction of
tumors, reduced bodyweight Daphnia magna. Not
and increased liver weight a bio accumulative
(may be a result of hepatic substance. Available
peroxisome proliferation) in data indicate
mice and rats evidence of
biodegradability
Combustible. Mildly irritating Moderately toxic to
to skin and causes coughing fish, daphnids and
when inhaled algae. Readily
No data found on long-term biodegradable.
exposure effects.
No data found on
bioaccumulation
May cause impaired blood No data found
clotting, hemorrhage, regarding potential
cytotoxicity, hepatocellular environmental
injury and carcinogenesis effects.
No data found. No data found
According to one study, it regarding potential
does not migrate when used environmental
in PVC even under harsh effects.
conditions such as high
temperature

PLASTICIZERS Function/Product
DEHPA: Primarily used as a flame
Di(2-ethylhexyl) retardant in products with
phosphate specific fire-resistant
demands. Also used as a
plasticizer in PVC products
used in the hospital sector,
packaging, cables, floor and
wall coverings
TEHPA: Used in fillers, paint and
Tri(2-ethylhexyl) lacquers, adhesives, plastic in
phosphate concrete and similar
DEHPA applications
OTSA: O-toluene Information on use is limited.
sulfonamide Anticipated to be used in the
future mainly in PVC cables
TXIB: Primarily used as a plasticizer
2,2,4-trimethyl 1,3- in PVC toys, flooring, products
pentanediol used in the hospital sector.
diisobutyrate Also used in fillers, wallpaper,
paint and lacquers, printing
inks, plastic in concrete,
artificial leather, packaging, as
well as vinyl and urethanes
Environmental
Concerns
Human Health Concerns
In humans, inhalation caused Ecosystem toxicity
weakness, irritability and data indicate it is
headache. harmful to algae,
Causes irritation of the eyes, crustaceans and fish.
and first and second-degree In a test involving the
skin burns. Reported to be microorganism
corrosive to the skin and eyes thiobacillus
in rabbits ferrooxidans,
respiration was
inhibited.
Has low
bioaccumulation
potential and is
inherently
biodegradable
May produce moderate Data show it is toxic
erythema and slight irritation to algae. Not readily
to eyes. biodegradable
Observed effects in rats according to the
include hematological changes available aerobic
and reduced body weight gain. biodegradation data.
A slight evidence of Slowly biodegrades
carcinogenicity has been under anaerobic
observed in female mice conditions when
present in weak
solutions
Reported to be teratogenic in Does not readily
rats, but only exhibiting a weak biodegrade
mutagenic effect (this is
however based on studies
without detailed descriptions
of the study design)
Sulfonamides may cause
hyperbilirubinemia in infants.
In addition, sulfonamides may
cause hemolytic anemia in
glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase-deficient
neonates
May be associated with eye Has some potential
irritation and nasal allergies for bioaccumulation
Has been observed to be
slightly irritating in guinea pigs.
Reversible liver weight changes
have also been observed in rats
from chronic exposure
DOS: Dioctyl Primarily used as a plasticizer
sebacate for PVC products and
elastomers.
Compatible with
nitrocellulose and
polyvinylidene chloride.
Anticipated to be used in
printing ink and adhesives
PLASTICIZERS Function/Product
DBS: Di-butyl Used as a plasticizer,
sebacate flavoring agent, and
cosmetic and perfume
additive
Grindsted soft-n- Primarily used as a
safe: Made from plasticizer in food contact
fully hydrogenated materials (approved for use
castor oil and acetic in the EU, US, South
acid America and most of Asia),
medical devices, vinyl
flooring, wallpaper, shrink
wrap film, textile dyes, ink
applications, adhesives and
sealants
Exhibits moderate acute Has a high
toxicity when administered bioaccumulation
orally to rats. Oral potential and has
administration to rats also been shown to
showed increased liver weight, degrade slowly
peroxisome proliferation and
increased levels of peroxisome
enzymes
Environmental
Concerns
Human Health Concerns
Combustible. biodegradable.
Chronic skin contact may Low and moderate
cause skin sensitization potential for bio-
Mildly toxic when ingested accumulation and
bioconcentration in
aquatic organisms
respectively
According to the According to the
manufacturer (Danisco), it manufacturer, there
shows no indication of dermal is no indication of
absorption/ irritation or eye aquatic toxicity
irritation. No hormone- biodegradable
disrupting or mutagenic
effects may result