1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C7,11-branched and linear alkyl esters (DHNUP)

CAS Registry Number 68515-42-4

What is it?

  • 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C7,11-branched and linear alkyl esters, collectively known as DHNUP, is a mixture of 6 components, that belongs to a family of chemicals called phthalates.
DHNUP is a mixture of six substances:
CAS RN Name
3648-20-2 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diundecyl ester
68515-44-6 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diheptyl ester, branched and linear
68515-45-7 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, dinonyl ester, branched and linear
111381-89-6 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, heptyl nonyl ester, branched and linear
111381-90-9 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, heptyl undecyl ester, branched and linear
111381-91-0 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, nonyl undecyl ester, branched and linear

How is it used?

  • DHNUP is principally used in Canada as a plasticizer for PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which may currently or was previously used in a variety of applications such as industrial, automotive, and construction materials.
  • DHNUP was manufactured and imported into Canada during the reporting year of 2006. However, manufacturing activity has significantly decreased in Canada while annual importation activity is estimated to have declined by over 90% since 2006.

Why is the Government of Canada assessing it?

  • Prior to the assessment, DHNUP was identified as a potential concern to human health based on its classification by international organizations as a substance that may cause harm to the developing fetus and impair fertility in laboratory animals, and based on a moderate potential for exposure to Canadians.

How is it released to the environment?

  • Most release of DHNUP to the environment is expected to occur from facilities where it is manufactured or used, and from the rinsing and cleaning of shipping containers.
  • Based on handling practices in place, such releases should be low.

How are Canadians exposed to it?

  • Exposure of the general population in Canada to DHNUP is expected to be low and occur predominantly from indoor air as a result of off-gassing from products containing DHNUP.

What are the results of the assessment?

  • The Government of Canada has conducted a science-based evaluation of DHNUP, called a screening assessment.
  • Results of the final screening assessment indicate that DHNUP is not expected to remain in the environment for a long time or accumulate in organisms.
  • Furthermore, the quantity of DHNUP that may be released to the environment is below the level expected to cause harm to organisms.
  • The Government of Canada has concluded that DHNUP is not harmful to human health at current levels of exposure.
  • The Government of Canada has also concluded that DHNUP is not entering the environment in a quantity or under conditions that constitute a danger to the environment.

What is the Government of Canada doing?

  • Based on the conclusion of the final screening assessment, no further action will be taken on DHNUP.
  • The final screening assessment report was published on November 28, 2009.

What can Canadians do?

  • The health risks associated with a chemical depend on the hazard (its potential to cause health effects) and the dose (the amount of chemical to which you are exposed).
  • Because exposure to DHNUP among the general population is low, the Government of Canada is not currently recommending specific actions by Canadians to reduce their exposure.

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