By Emmanuel Bobby
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to impose new regulations on how certain phthalate chemicals are used in workplace settings after completing an extensive risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Dec. 31.
Phthalates, which are primarily used as plasticizers to make PVC products more flexible, are common in a wide range of industrial and consumer goods. These chemicals are found in items such as adhesives, flooring, textiles, paints, and rubber products, making them widespread in manufacturing environments.
According to a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission report, scientific research has linked some phthalates to hormone disruption as well as reproductive and developmental problems, particularly for babies exposed before birth and during infancy. Zeldin said the EPA’s evaluation was the most comprehensive assessment of phthalates ever conducted by the agency.
“We are now announcing that, following gold-standard science, promoting radical transparency of the research and data, and working to Make America Healthy Again, we will regulate dozens of phthalate chemical uses after finding unreasonable risks to workers and the environment,” Zeldin wrote in a post on X.
Chemicals Identified for Regulation
In a formal statement issued the same day, the EPA announced its intent to regulate dozens of uses of five specific phthalates: butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP).
The agency said it is “seriously concerned” about potential health effects associated with these chemicals, including endocrine disruption and hormone deficiencies. However, it emphasized that such health effects do not occur at all exposure levels.
“The key factor in determining risk is whether people are exposed to amounts above levels that could cause health problems,” the EPA said.
For BBP, which is commonly used in adhesives, floor coverings, and rubber products, the EPA identified two types of worker-related uses that pose unreasonable risks and seven use cases that present environmental risks. DEHP, used in products such as paints, industrial polishes, and textiles, was found to pose unreasonable risks to workers in 10 use categories and environmental risks in 20 use categories. Similar conclusions were reached for DBP, DCHP, and DIBP.
Next Steps and Safeguards
The EPA said it will now move forward with drafting rules designed to eliminate or reduce the identified risks. These rules will be developed through consultations with workers, businesses, labor organizations, and community groups.
“Personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and alternative approaches will be carefully evaluated to create effective, implementable solutions that protect those most at risk,” the agency said.
When determining whether a chemical presents an unreasonable risk, the EPA considers factors such as the severity of health effects, the populations exposed, and the likelihood and type of harm that may result.
Additional Action on 1,3-Butadiene
In a separate announcement, the EPA said it also plans to regulate nearly a dozen industrial uses of 1,3-butadiene, a colorless gas used in manufacturing products such as car tires, paints, automotive care products, and adhesives.
The agency’s review found potential unreasonable risks to workers who inhale the chemical in 11 industrial settings. However, it did not identify similar risks for the environment, consumers, or people living near facilities that use the substance.
The EPA noted that consumer products typically contain very small amounts of 1,3-butadiene—generally less than 0.001 percent—which it considers safe. Higher risks arise in industrial environments where workers may be exposed to elevated concentrations over time.
“These higher exposure levels could lead to health risks, which may include reduced birthweight pregnancies, anemia, leukemia, and bladder cancer,” the agency said.
Long Review Process
According to the EPA, the review of 1,3-butadiene took six years and involved analyzing roughly 20,000 scientific studies across 30 different use cases.
“The final rules will give companies clear regulatory certainty while providing workers with necessary protections,” the agency said. “Our safeguards will be tough and practical, and we will take additional action if new science emerges or conditions change.”
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