What is DEHP?
DEHP is a colorless liquid with a slight odor. It is a man-made chemical added to plastics to make them flexible. DEHP can be present in many common items, including floor tiles, upholstery and fabric, rainwear, shoes, packaging film, tablecloths, shower curtains, garden hoses, paints, coatings on wires and cables, and medical tubing.
In the United States, the use of DEHP has been discontinued in children’s toys, childcare items (like pacifiers, rattles, and teethers), and food packaging. Many companies have started using alternatives to DEHP to make medical equipment.
How can I be exposed to DEHP?
Due to its widespread use in plastics, DEHP is found throughout the environment, usually at low levels. The most common way that people are exposed is by eating food stored in plastic containers made with DEHP. People, especially children, can also be exposed to DEHP by swallowing contaminated dust. Exposure can also occur during certain medical procedures, such as blood transfusions, kidney dialysis, and use of respirators if the plastic tubing contains DEHP. People living near hazardous waste disposal sites or municipal landfills (where DEHP gets into the soil from plastic waste) may be exposed to DEPH in their air and drinking water.
How can DEHP affect my health?
Current scientific evidence indicates that DEHP toxicity is most likely to affect the male reproductive system and the developing fetus. Adult animals that ate DEHP showed decreased fertility and damage to the testes, liver, and kidneys. Some studies indicate that exposure to high levels of DEHP during pregnancy may lead to preterm birth and developments effects, including altered timing of puberty, delayed mental development, and testicles that do not descend properly.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that DEHP is a probable human carcinogen (a substance that can cause cancer in people). Animals exposed to high levels of DEHP for a long time developed cancers of the liver, pancreas, and testes.
What is the drinking water standard for DEHP?
The EPA and Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is 0.006 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
In Massachusetts, local Boards of Health and Health Departments have the authority to regulate private wells and may establish criteria for their location, construction, water quality, and quantity. Additional information for residents who use private wells is available from MassDEP.
What are the testing requirements for DEHP?
In Massachusetts, all public water systems are initially required to test for DEHP for four consecutive quarters (every three months for one year) and repeat every three years. Based on the results, a public water system may reduce its testing frequency after approval by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).