NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Di-Isodecyl Phthalate (DIDP)

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) conducted an evaluation of the potential for di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) to cause adverse effects on reproduction and development in humans. DIDP is one of 7 phthalate chemicals evaluated by the NTP CERHR Phthalates Expert Panel. These phthalates were selected for evaluation because of high production volume, extent of human exposures, use in children's products, and/or published evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity. DIDP is a mixture of branched, C-10 phthalate isomers used to add flexibility to a wide variety of polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic products such as artificial leather, toys, carpet backing, and pool liners. The results of this evaluation on DIDP are published in a NTP-CERHR monograph which includes: 1) the NTP Brief, 2) the Expert Panel Report on the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Di-Isodecyl Phthalate, and 3) public comments received on the Expert Panel Report. As stated in the NTP Brief, the NTP reached the following conclusions regarding the possible effects of exposure to DIDP on human development and reproduction. First, although DIDP could possibly affect human development if exposures are sufficiently high, there is minimal concern for developmental effects in fetuses and children at current proposed/estimated exposure levels. There is no direct evidence that exposure of people to DIDP adversely affects reproduction or development, but show that oral exposure of pregnant rats to high doses (200 and 1000 mg/kg bodyweight/day) of DIDP can adversely affect fetal development. Human exposure information for DIDP was not available, but it was assumed that the general US population would be exposed to 3-30 mug/kg body weight/day, based upon the range of estimated exposures for DEHP, a more widely used phthalate. Second, there is negligible concern for reproductive toxicity in exposed adults. Studies evaluated showed that, at high exposure levels, there is no evidence of adverse reproductive effects in rats. NTP-CERHR monographs are transmitted to federal and state agencies, interested parties, and the public and are available electronically in PDF format on the CERHR web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) and in printed text or CD-ROM from the CERHR (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-32, Research Triangle Park, NC; fax: 919-316-4511).