Dimethyl phthalate in food: ingestion safety
Low risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Dimethyl phthalate (DMP; CAS 131-11-3) is among the lower-concern phthalate compounds. US EPA IRIS classification Group D (not classifiable for carcinogenicity); oral RfD 10 mg/kg/day — a high reference dose reflecting low chronic toxicity. Historically used as an insect repellent in military settings (skin application, uniform treatment) without significant adverse health outcomes. DMP is rapidly metabolized to monomethyl phthalate and excreted renally (half-life hours rather than days). Bioaccumulation potential is low (log Kow ~1.6). Unlike the higher-priority phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP), DMP has not demonstrated significant antiandrogenic reproductive toxicity in animal studies at environmentally relevant doses and is not included in EFSA's cumulative phthalate group TDI for reproductive harm. Occupational exposure during manufacturing warrants standard chemical handling precautions (skin/eye protection), but consumer exposure levels pose minimal risk.
What is dimethyl phthalate?
The IUPAC name is dimethyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate.
Also known as: dimethyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate, DIMETHYLPHTHALATE, Avolin, Mipax.
- IUPAC name
- dimethyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
- CAS number
- 131-11-3
- Molecular formula
- C10H10O4
- Molecular weight
- 194.18 g/mol
- SMILES
- COC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1C(=O)OC
- PubChem CID
- 8554
Risk for people
Low riskDimethyl phthalate (DMP; CAS 131-11-3) is among the lower-concern phthalate compounds. US EPA IRIS classification Group D (not classifiable for carcinogenicity); oral RfD 10 mg/kg/day — a high reference dose reflecting low chronic toxicity. Historically used as an insect repellent in military settings (skin application, uniform treatment) without significant adverse health outcomes. DMP is rapidly metabolized to monomethyl phthalate and excreted renally (half-life hours rather than days). Bioaccumulation potential is low (log Kow ~1.6). Unlike the higher-priority phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP), DMP has not demonstrated significant antiandrogenic reproductive toxicity in animal studies at environmentally relevant doses and is not included in EFSA's cumulative phthalate group TDI for reproductive harm. Occupational exposure during manufacturing warrants standard chemical handling precautions (skin/eye protection), but consumer exposure levels pose minimal risk.
Regulatory consensus
5 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Dimethyl phthalate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US EPA (IRIS) | 2010 | not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity (Group D); oral RfD 10 mg/kg/day; inadequate data to assess carcinogenicity | |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | D (Not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity) | |
| EPA CTX / EPA OPP | — | Group D Not Classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 12 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 12 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter dimethyl phthalate
- Consumer Products — Plastic bottles and containers, Food packaging, Plastic toys and household items
- Drinking Water — Leaching from plastic pipes, Migration from bottled water containers
- Indoor Environments — Off-gassing from plastic furniture, Degradation of plastic products
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Dimethyl phthalate:
-
Fragrance-free formulations
Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented productsRelative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
-
Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizersRelative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
What products contain dimethyl phthalate?
Dimethyl phthalate appears in: Plastic bottles and containers (Consumer products); Food packaging (Consumer products); Leaching from plastic pipes (Drinking water); Migration from bottled water containers (Drinking water); Off-gassing from plastic furniture (Indoor environments).
Why do regulators disagree about dimethyl phthalate?
Dimethyl phthalate has been classified by 5 agencies including US EPA (IRIS), EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / EPA OPP, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Dimethyl phthalate in the food app
Look up products containing dimethyl phthalate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (2)
- US EPA IRIS Dimethyl Phthalate: Group D Not Classifiable Carcinogenicity; Oral RfD 10 mg/kg/day; Kidney Liver Effects; Low log Kow ~1.6; Rapid Hydrolysis to Monomethyl Phthalate (2010) — regulatory
- WHO Insect Repellents Safety: DMP Historical Military Use; Skin Application Without Significant Adverse Effects; Lower Concern Phthalate vs DEHP DBP; Not in EFSA Cumulative Phthalate Group (2009) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →