Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in products as plasticizers. Consumer groups and government regulations have resulted in a growing concern of the potential health effects associated with phthalates in consumer products, particularly in children’s toys and baby care items. Exponent has conducted numerous phthalate-related evaluations for products such as toy charms, inflatable toys, food packaging and medical devices, including estimation of corresponding potential exposures under typical-use and reasonable maximum use scenarios.
Exponent staff has nationally recognized expertise in assessing exposures to, and potential risks posed by, phthalates in the environment or in consumer products. Our staff has developed summaries of human exposure to phthalates for the National Toxicology Program’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and participated on the U.S. EPA peer review panel to review the revised EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) risk assessment of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). In addition, staff members have probabilistically characterized age-specific, multi-route intakes and corresponding risk to children chronically exposed to a phthalate constituent of plastic products, including intakes via food, drinking water, breast milk, inhalation, and mouthing plastic toys.