What is diethylphthalate?

Diethylphthalate (DEP) is a colorless, clear, and oily liquid with a slightly sweet and fruity odor. It is a phthalate ester of phthalic acid. DEP is commonly used as a plasticizer, solvent, and fixative in various products, including nail polish, perfume, hair spray, and insect repellent.

DEP is considered a low-toxicity chemical, with a low potential for acute toxicity or skin irritation. However, long-term exposure to DEP has been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity in animal studies.

DEP is listed as a priority chemical in a number of regulatory frameworks, including the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Consequently, DEP is subject to various regulations and restrictions on its use and production in different parts of the world.