Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl- or 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl (MBMBP)

CAS Registry Number 119-47-1

What is it?

• Phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl- or 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl, also known as MBMBP, is an industrial chemical.

How is it used?

• MBMBP is used in industry as an antioxidant in thermoplastic polymers, rubber, latex and adhesives and as a stabilizer in polymers.
• There is no information to indicate that MBMBP is present in consumer products.
• MBMBP is not currently manufactured in Canada but is imported into Canada.

Why is the Government of Canada assessing it?

• MBMBP was selected as one of the 123 substances for the Screening Assessment Pilot Project.
• This Pilot Project initially identified 123 substances which were anticipated to be persistent and/or bioaccumulative and inherently toxic to human and non-human organisms and/or have a high potential for exposure to Canadians.

How is it released to the environment?

• MBMBP may be released to the environment during industrial processes as a result of losses arising during the processing of products containing MBMBP.
• Upon its release, most of the substance is expected to end up in water, sediment or soil.

How are Canadians exposed to it?

• Because MBMBP is used principally in industrial processes and there is no information to indicate its presence in consumer products, exposure to the general population of Canada is expected to be very low.

What are the results of the assessment?

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

What is the Government of Canada doing?

• Based on the conclusion of the final screening assessment, no further action will be taken on MBMBP.
• The draft of this screening assessment was subject to a 60-day public comment period from June 23, 2007 to August 22, 2007 and the State of the Science Report for a Screening Health Assessment was posted on the Health Canada website on January 30, 2006.
• The final screening assessment 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 MBMBP among the general population is very low, the Government of Canada is not currently recommending any specific actions by Canadians to reduce their exposure.
• As a general precaution, Canadians who handle MBMBP in an industrial or manufacturing setting are reminded to carefully follow safety warnings and directions when using products containing MBMBP.