Peer Review for Evaluating Risk from High Priority Phthalates

EPA is conducting risk evaluations of the phthalates dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

EPA held a virtual public meeting on Aug. 4-8, 2025, for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) to discuss the draft risk evaluations for DBP, DCHP, and DEHP as well as the non-cancer human health and environmental hazard draft technical support documents (TSDs) for BBP and DIBP, and three cross-phthalate technical support documents. On October 6, 2025, EPA released the meeting minutes and final report for the August SACC meeting. These documents are available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0551 on regulations.gov.

EPA held a preparatory virtual public meeting on July 21, 2025, for the SACC and the public to consider and ask questions regarding the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions. EPA published a Federal Register notice announcing the dates on June 10, 2025.

Because the SACC reviewed several technical support documents that will support the risk evaluations for BBP and DIBP, EPA will consider the SACC recommendations from this peer review when developing the risk evaluations and unreasonable risk determinations for these two chemicals. Therefore, EPA does not expect the need for an additional peer review of the forthcoming risk evaluations for BBP and DIBP.

On December 3, 2024, EPA published a Federal Register notice requesting nominations of prospective ad hoc expert reviewers to assist the SACC with its peer review. The nomination period ended on January 2, 2025. After reviewing the nominations, EPA called for public comments on the interested and available candidates under consideration as prospective ad hoc reviewers. The comment period ended on May 15, 2025. EPA posted the biographies of selected ad hoc reviewers to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0551 on regulations.gov in June 2025.

For additional information, contact the Designated Federal Official, Dr. Alaa Kamel, kamel.alaa@epa.gov.

• View the meeting minutes and final report from the SACC meeting.
• Read the charge questions for the SACC meeting.
• View the biographies of ad hoc reviewers participating in the SACC peer review.
• View the roster for the SACC meeting.
• View the agenda for the SACC meeting.
• View EPA's technical presentation during the SACC meeting.