Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) in your home: a safety profile
Low risk for your homeNot medical or professional safety advice, and not a substitute for a qualified clinician — consult one. Full disclaimer →
Indoor-air migration from flexible-PVC consumer products; minor relative to ingestion route.
What is benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp)?
The IUPAC name is 2-O-benzyl 1-O-butyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate.
Also known as: 2-O-benzyl 1-O-butyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate, Benzyl butyl phthalate, BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE, Sicol.
- IUPAC name
- 2-O-benzyl 1-O-butyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate
- CAS number
- 85-68-7
- Molecular formula
- C19H20O4
- Molecular weight
- 312.4 g/mol
- SMILES
- CCCCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1C(=O)OCC2=CC=CC=C2
- PubChem CID
- 2347
Risk for your household
Low riskIndoor-air migration from flexible-PVC consumer products; minor relative to ingestion route.
Regulatory consensus
8 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARC | 2000 | Group 3 (not classifiable as to carcinogenicity) | IARC Monograph 73 (2000). Grouped with DEHP and DBP as primary anti-androgenic phthalates of concern. BBP produces equivalent testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) features in animal models as DBP, including reduced anogenital distance and testosterone suppression. EU REACH SVHC — Reproductive Toxicant Category 1B. Used in vinyl tile flooring, artificial leather, sealants, and food packaging; EU Annex XIV listing requires authorization for continued use in the EU. |
| EPA CTX / IRIS | — | C (Possible human carcinogen) | |
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 11 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 3 positive / 11 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Eye Irritation: Not classified (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Not classified (score: low) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate) |
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 your home encounter benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp)
- 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 Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP):
-
DINCH or DOTP
Trade-offs: May require reformulationRelative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp) safe for your home?
Indoor-air migration from flexible-PVC consumer products; minor relative to ingestion route.
What products contain benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp)?
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) 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 benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp)?
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) has been classified by 8 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, 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 Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) in the home app
Look up products containing benzyl butyl phthalate (bbp), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in home View raw API dataSources (3)
- IARC Monographs Volume 73: Benzyl Butyl Phthalate — Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (Group 3) (2000) — regulatory
- ECHA/EU REACH: Benzyl Butyl Phthalate — SVHC Identification, Reproductive Toxicant Category 1B, Annex XIV Authorization Required (2011) — regulatory
- US EPA: Benzyl Butyl Phthalate — IRIS Toxicological Review and Health Effects Assessment (2001) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →