Phosphoric Acid Derivatives Group - information sheet

Phenol, dimethyl-, phosphate (3:1) (trixylyl phosphate)
CAS RN 25155-23-1

9-Octadecen-1-ol, (Z)-, phosphate (oleyl phosphate)
CAS RN 37310-83-1

Phosphorous trichloride, reaction products with 1,1-biphenyl and 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol
CAS RN 119345-01-6

Publications summarized:

• Final Screening Assessment for the Phosphoric Acid Derivatives Group (published on December 19, 2020). Public comments received on the draft assessment were considered and a summary of the comments with Government responses was published.
• Associated notice: Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 154, No. 51 – December 19, 2020

On this page

• Overview
• About these substances
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Assessment conclusions
• Preventive actions and risk reduction
  • Where to find updates
• Related resources

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducts risk assessments of substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to determine whether they present or may present a risk to human health or to the environment.
  • The risks posed by a substance are determined by both its hazardous properties (potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount or extent of exposure to people or the environment.
  • When needed, the Government implements risk management measures under CEPA and other federal acts to help prevent or reduce potential harm.
• The ecological hazard and exposure potentials of the 3 substances were classified using the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances (ERC) Approach.
• As a result of the assessment, the Government concluded that these 3 substances are not harmful to human health or to the environment at levels of exposure considered in the assessment. One of the substances, trixylyl phosphate, is associated with human health effects of concern; however, the risk to people in Canada is low at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.

About these substances

• The assessment focused on 3 of 6 substances, referred to collectively as the Phosphoric Acid Derivatives Group under the Chemicals Management Plan, with CAS RN 119345-01-6.
• Three other substances in the Phosphoric Acid Derivatives Group (CAS RNs 68604-99-9, 68952-35-2, and 111174-61-9) were determined to be of low concern to both human health and the environment through another approach. Conclusions for these substances are provided in the Final Screening Assessment for the Rapid Screening of Substances with Limited General Population Exposure.
• These substances do not occur naturally in the environment.
• According to information gathered by the Government, in Canada, trixylyl phosphate may be used as a flame retardant and in lubricants and greases. It may also be used in food packaging materials, in plasticizers, in hydraulic fluids and in insulation for wires and cables.
• Oleyl phosphate is used in cosmetics, such as permanent hair dye. CAS RN 119345-01-6 is used in plastic and rubber materials and may also be used in food packaging materials.

Human and ecological exposures

• The assessment indicated that people in Canada may be exposed to trixylyl phosphate through the environment (for example, from its presence in house dust) and from certain products available to consumers, such as electronics and automotive fluids. Exposure of people in Canada to oleyl phosphate may occur from the use of certain cosmetics.
• People in Canada may be exposed to CAS RN 119345-01-6 mainly through their diet from its potential use in food packaging.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, trixylyl phosphate was identified as having a moderate ecological exposure potential due to its long overall persistence (ability to stay in the environment over time) and moderate quantities of use, while oleyl phosphate and CAS RN 119345-01-6 were identified as having low ecological exposure potential.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• To help inform the health effects characterization in the assessment, international data reports on these substances were considered, among other sources of information. This included assessments conducted by the European Union under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and by the Australian National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme.
• Trixylyl phosphate has been identified in the European Union as a substance of very high concern because of its reproductive toxicity (may damage fertility). Effects on the reproductive organs and adrenal glands were considered to be the critical effects for the assessment of trixylyl phosphate.
• No effects on human health have been identified for oleyl phosphate based on available information.
• For CAS RN 119345-01-6, potential developmental effects in laboratory studies were the critical effects identified for the assessment.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, trixylyl phosphate was identified as having a moderate ecological hazard potential while oleyl phosphate was identified as having a high ecological hazard potential. This was based on their potential to cause adverse effects in aquatic food webs given their respective moderate and high potentials to bioaccumulate. CAS RN 119345-01-6 was identified as having a low ecological hazard potential.

Risk assessment outcomes

• Based upon a comparison of levels to which people in Canada may be exposed to trixylyl phosphate and CAS RN 119345-01-6 and levels associated with health effects, the risk to human health from those 2 substances was determined to be low.
• The risk to human health from oleyl phosphate was also determined to be low, based on the information presented in the assessment.
• Based upon the outcome of the ERC Approach, these 3 substances are considered unlikely to be causing ecological harm.

Assessment conclusions

• The Government concluded that trixylyl phosphate, oleyl phosphate, and CAS RN 119345-01-6 are not harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment, and that these 3 substances are not entering the environment at levels that are harmful.

Preventive actions and risk reduction

• Although trixylyl phosphate is not considered to be harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment, it is considered to have a health effect of concern (effects on the reproductive system). There may be a concern if exposures were to increase.
• Therefore, the Government published an order amending the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to apply Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of CEPA to trixylyl phosphate on March 26, 2025.
• This requires that the Government be notified of certain proposed new activities related to trixylyl phosphate, and that the new activity be assessed for potential risks to human health and the environment before being undertaken.
• The order outlines the definition of a significant new activity in relation to trixylyl phosphate, as well as the information that needs to be provided to the Government for assessment before the new activity is undertaken.

Where to find updates

• Information about SNAc provisions applied to substances, including new notices and orders and those already published, can be found in the SNAc publications dataset.
• Updates on information gathering initiatives and additional information on the risk management of substances addressed under the CMP is available.
• Use the Substances Search tool to find substances that are referenced in certain legislative or regulatory instruments or on Government of Canada websites.

Related resources

• These substances may be found in products available to consumers. People in Canada should follow any safety warnings and directions related to the product and dispose of products responsibly.
• Assessments conducted under CEPA focus on risks of exposure of the general population, including populations who may be disproportionately impacted. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The Government of Canada recognizes that it is the responsibility of the federal, provincial and territorial occupational health and safety organizations to coordinate legislation for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. We are working to support this role by integrating the information, tools, and/or technical expertise of the CMP and Health Canada's Workplace Hazardous Products Program.