EPA Final TSCA Risk Evaluations for Phthalates

The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) introduced on January 6, 2026, the provision of the ultimate danger evaluations underneath the Poisonous Substances Management Act (TSCA) for butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). 91 Fed. Reg. 373. EPA states that it “used the very best out there science to arrange these ultimate danger evaluations, and decided, primarily based on the load of scientific proof, that BBP, DBP, DCHP, DEHP, and DIBP pose unreasonable danger to human well being and/or the setting pushed by particular situations of use” (COU). Underneath TSCA, EPA should provoke danger administration actions to handle the unreasonable danger.

In line with EPA’s December 31, 2025, press releasethe COUs contributing to unreasonable danger embody:

• BBP: Unreasonable danger to employees (two COUs); environmental dangers (seven COUs);
• DBP: Unreasonable danger to employees (5 COUs); environmental dangers (one COU);
• DCHP: Unreasonable danger to employees (two COUs);
• DEHP: Unreasonable danger to employees (ten COUs); environmental dangers (20 COUs); and
• DIBP: Unreasonable danger to employees (4 COUs); environmental dangers (seven COUs).

EPA notes that the TSCA danger analysis course of focuses particularly on makes use of regulated underneath TSCA. TSCA danger evaluations don’t analyze exposures from meals, meals components, meals packaging, medical gadgets, cosmetics, and different shopper merchandise which can be underneath the purview of the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) or Client Product Security Fee (CPSC). EPA states that for the patron makes use of which can be a part of this TSCA danger analysis, it “discovered no merchandise with publicity ranges which can be inflicting unreasonable danger to the final inhabitants. In pursuit of gold normal science, dermal modeling was enhanced primarily based on peer evaluation suggestions and public remark, particularly with the alternative of rodent knowledge with precise human knowledge.”

EPA will develop danger administration guidelines to remove the recognized unreasonable dangers to employees and the setting. In line with EPA, it’s going to seek the advice of employees, companies, labor teams, and communities to develop “focused, sensible protections that guarantee employee security and environmental safety.” EPA will consider private protecting gear (PPE), engineering controls, and different approaches to create “efficient, implementable options that defend these most in danger.”