Diethyl phthalate in people living in Canada

Learn about human biomonitoring of diethyl phthalate in Canada.

About diethyl phthalate (DEP)

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) belongs to a group of human-made chemicals called phthalates. It is a short-chain phthalate, a category defined by having a short alkyl chain of 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

DEP is used as a solvent and stabilizer to soften plastics and increase their flexibility and resilience. DEP is most commonly found in:

personal care products (such as cosmetics, perfumes, colognes, deodorants, soaps, shampoos and lotions)
consumer products (such as toys, hand tools, air fresheners, insecticidal sprays and repellents)
industrial products (such as auto parts, dyes, packaging material, sealants and lubricants)

DEP can also be found in certain medical products, for example in pill coatings and in dental impression materials.

People are exposed to DEP by:

using consumer products that contain DEP
eating foods in which DEP has leached from packaging materials
breathing air, drinking water or eating seafood contaminated with DEP

DEP is absorbed in the body after exposure. It's quickly broken down into other chemicals called metabolites. The main metabolite of DEP is mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), which is quickly excreted in urine.

MEP can be measured in a urine sample. The presence of MEP in urine reflects recent exposure to DEP.

Potential health effects of DEP

Evidence for health effects of DEP in laboratory animals is not consistent.

Some studies reported effects, often at higher exposure levels, that include:

altered organ and body weights
reproductive effects, such as changes in hormones and reduced sperm quality in males, and effects on pregnancy outcomes in females
developmental effects, including altered growth and reduced liver function

However, other laboratory animal studies did not find these effects.

The presence of a substance in your body doesn't mean it will affect your health.

Managing DEP in Canada

We assessed DEP as part of a group of phthalates studied together under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and found no concern for human health at levels normally found in the Canadian environment.

We continue to track changes in exposure and commercial use patterns for phthalates, including DEP. Information gathering activities include:

human biomonitoring
food monitoring and surveillance

Other follow-up activities may include:

monitoring house dust
environmental monitoring of Canadian surface waters, wastewater discharge and air

Data sources for DEP biomonitoring

This page presents human biomonitoring data from the:

Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)
First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI)
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study
MIREC-Child Development study (MIREC-CD Plus)
Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey (Q2017)

You can access more results for phthalates and other plasticizers in the Canadian population through the Canadian biomonitoring dashboard.

Overview of biomonitoring initiatives for urinary mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) in Canada

Initiative	Collection period	Target population
CHMS	2007 to 2011 2016 to 2019	General Canadian population aged 3 to 79 living in the 10 provinces
FNBI	2011	First Nations people aged 20+ living on-reserve south of the 60° parallel
MIREC	2008 to 2011	Pregnant people aged 18 and above living in 10 cities across Canada
MIREC-CD Plus	2013 to 2015	Children aged 3 to 5 living in 6 cities across Canada
Q2017	2017	Inuit aged 16 and above living in the region of Nunavik, Quebec

We wish to acknowledge all participants, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, who took part in the biomonitoring studies.

Results of DEP biomonitoring

Canadian biomonitoring results for DEP are presented as levels of its main metabolite MEP.

Levels in the Canadian population

From 2007 to 2019, average MEP levels decreased by 70% in people aged 6 to 49.

Collection period	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2007 to 2009	6 to 49	56	47–66
2009 to 2011	6 to 49	45	37–56
2016 to 2017	6 to 49	20	16–26
2018 to 2019	6 to 49	17	14–20

Levels in the Canadian population, by age group

Average MEP levels were higher in adults and adolescents than in children.

Collection period	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2007 to 2009	3 to 5	Not Available (NA)	NA
2007 to 2009	6 to 11	26	21–32
2007 to 2009	12 to 19	65	55–77
2007 to 2009	20 to 39	62	51–75
2007 to 2009	40 to 59	NA	NA
2007 to 2009	60 to 79	NA	NA
2009 to 2011	3 to 5	21	18–24
2009 to 2011	6 to 11	29	23–36
2009 to 2011	12 to 19	51	43–61
2009 to 2011	20 to 39	48	32–71
2009 to 2011	40 to 59	44	30–66
2009 to 2011	60 to 79	49	38–63
2016 to 2017	3 to 5	13	11–16
2016 to 2017	6 to 11	18	14–23
2016 to 2017	12 to 19	25	19–32
2016 to 2017	20 to 39	20	13–32
2016 to 2017	40 to 59	23	15–34
2016 to 2017	60 to 79	25	20–30
2018 to 2019	3 to 5	12	10–15
2018 to 2019	6 to 11	16	13–20
2018 to 2019	12 to 19	20	14–27
2018 to 2019	20 to 39	17	13–22
2018 to 2019	40 to 59	18	14–22
2018 to 2019	60 to 79	17	13–22

Levels in the Canadian population, by sex

Average MEP levels were similar between sexes.

Collection period	Sex	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2007 to 2009	Males	6 to 49	59	48–72
2007 to 2009	Females	6 to 49	53	44–65
2009 to 2011	Males	3 to 79	45	35–59
2009 to 2011	Females	3 to 79	43	36–53
2016 to 2017	Males	3 to 79	21	17–26
2016 to 2017	Females	3 to 79	23	19–27
2018 to 2019	Males	3 to 79	16	13–20
2018 to 2019	Females	3 to 79	18	15–22

Levels in the First Nations on-reserve population in Canada

The average MEP level was lower among the First Nations on-reserve population in Canada than in the general population.

Collection period	Study	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2009 to 2011	CHMS	20 to 79	47	36–58
2011	FNBI	20 to 79	24	18–33

Levels in pregnant people in Canada

The average MEP level was lower in pregnant people from a multi-city Canadian cohort than in people of child-bearing age (females aged 18 to 49 years) in the general population.

Collection period	Study	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2009 to 2011	CHMS	18 to 49	47	34–59
2008 to 2011	MIREC	18 to 49	26	25–28

Levels in children in Canada

Average MEP levels were similar between preschoolers (aged 3 to 5) in a cohort from several Canadian cities and those in the general population.

Collection period	Study	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (μg/L)	95% confidence interval (μg/L)
2016 to 2017	CHMS	3 to 5	13	10–16
2013 to 2015	MIREC-CD Plus	3 to 5	12	10–15

Levels in Inuit living in Nunavik

The average MEP level in urine among Inuit living in Nunavik from the Q2017 study was 30 μg/L.

How to cite this page

Health Canada. 2025. Diethyl phthalate in people living in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/diethyl-phthalate-people-Canada.html

For more information, contact: biomonitoring-biosurveillance@hc-sc.gc.ca

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2025-11-25

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