• Synonyms: DMP; Dimethyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate; Dimethyl ester of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid; Dimethyl phthalate; Phthalic acid, dimethyl ester
• OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0950
• Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 131-11-3
• NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: TI1575000
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Dimethylphthalate: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
  • General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 -- 5 mg/m³ TWA
  • Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 5 mg/m³ TWA
  • Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 5 mg/m³ TWA
• American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (2005): 5 mg/m³ TWA
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 5 mg/m³ TWA

• Carcinogenic Classification:
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity
• NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 2,000 mg/m³
• Potential Symptoms: Irritation of eyes, upper respiratory system; stomach pain; dizziness, disorientation, loss of coordination; INGES. ACUTE: Vomiting, diarrhea, unconsciousness
• Health Effects: Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat---Mild (HE16)
• Affected Organs: Eyes, respiratory system, GI tract
• Notes:
  1. A rat 24-hour urine collection following the administration of 0.1 ml of dimethyl phthalate by oral gavage contained 8.1% parent compound; 77.5% of the total excreted phthalate was monomethyl phthalate, and 14.4% was phthalic acid.
  2. A NOAEL for maternal toxicity of 1% was reported for pregnant rats administered 0.25, 1 or 5% dimethyl phthalate in the diet during gestational days 6-15, and no effect of dimethyl phthalate feeding was observed on any parameter of embryo/fetal development.
  3. The steady state absorption rate of dimethyl phthalate (3.95 ± 0.64 µg/cm²/hr) through human skin was reported to be less than 10% the rate through rat skin in vitro.
• Literature Basis:
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Dimethylphthalate.
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Dimethyl phthalate.
  • EPA Air Toxics Website: Dimethyl Phthalate. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
  • Albro, P.W. and Moore, B.: Identification of the metabolites of simple phthalate diesters in rat urine. J. Chromatogr. 94(0): 209-218, 1974.
  • Field, E.A., et al.: Developmental toxicity evaluation of diethyl and dimethyl phthalate in rats. Teratology 48(1): 33-44, 1993.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Dimethyl Phthalate. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 936-939.
  • Scott, R.C., Dugard, P.H., Ramsey, J.D. and Rhodes, C.: In vitro absorption of some o-phthalate diesters through human and rat skin. Environ. Health Perspect. 74: 223-227, 1987.
• Date Last Revised: 05/15/2007

Primary Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method (SLC1):