US scientists find evidence of highly toxic ‘super-phthalate’ in plastics
18-Feb-2011
New research has indicated that a relatively unknown phthalate called dipentyl phthalate (DPeP) may be up to eight times more potent than DEHP. Previous studies have identified DEHP as one of the most toxic varieties of phthalates but the effects of DPeP, also added to plastics in consumer products, are less well known.
However, a recent study by scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that prebirth exposure to DPeP in rats interferes with testosterone production and reproductive development in male offspring at low levels. Comparison to data previously obtained for exposure to DEHP indicated that DPeP is approximately 8 times more potent in reducing foetal testosterone production and 2-3 times more potent in inducing development of male reproductive malformations. Data from this research, published in Toxicological Sciences, will be valuable for regulatory agencies such as the EPA in undertaking risk assessments of DPeP.