Phthalic Acid

Fires involving this material can be controlled with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)

Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide.

Fresh air, rest.

Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible).

Rinse mouth.

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: Should a spill occur while you are handling this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION, then you should dampen the solid spill material with 60-70% ethanol and transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with 60-70% ethanol to pick up any remaining material. Seal the absorbent paper, and any of your clothes, which may be contaminated, in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with 60-70% ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Good local & general ventilation are required where phthalic acid is handled.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.

NO open flames ... Prevent deposition of dust; closed system, dust explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting ... PREVENT DISPERSION OF DUST ... Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work.

LC50; Species: Bufo bufo japonicus (Toad); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: 36000 ug/L for 24 hr at 25 °C, pH 5.0 /formulated product/

LC50; Species: Bufo bufo japonicus (Toad); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: >40000 ug/L for 24 hr at 25 °C, pH 6.0 /formulated product/

LC50; Species: Bufo bufo japonicus (Toad); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: >40000 ug/L for 24 hr at 25 °C, pH 7.0 /formulated product/

LC50; Species: Bufo bufo japonicus (Toad); Conditions: freshwater; static; Concentration: >40000 ug/L for 24 hr at 25 °C, pH 8.0 /formulated product/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for PHTHALIC ACID (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), experimental Koc values of 2 to 31(2), indicate that phthalic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of phthalic acid from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2X10-11 atm-cu derived from its vapor pressure, 6.36X10-7 mm Hg(3), and water solubility, 6965 mg/L(4). Phthalic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(3). Phthalic acid rapidly degraded in Chalmers soil (1.96% organic carbon, pH 6.0); 100% decomposition was obtained after 53 days(5).

TERRESTRIAL FATE: 14C-Phthalic acid (0.6-600 ppm) was added to the upper 15 cm of Norfolk sandy loam soil in 21 cm high pots and planted with wheat/corn or soybeans/fescue in greenhouse studies(1). The average half-life of phthalic acid (assuming a linear decay) was 37 days for all plantings and application rates. A balance sheet indicated that an average of 5.7% of the originally applied 14C was recovered from soil and plants at the end of the experiment (80 days); most of the phthalic acid was lost through volatilization or decomposition(1). A study was conducted at a plant site where an industrial waste from a terphthalic acid manufacturing facility was injected into the subsurface (259-305 m)(2). While phthalic acid was present at an avg concn of 76 mg/L in the injected waste, phthalic acid was not present in 3 monitoring wells, 2-4 years post injection(2). When phthalic acid was applied at 448,144 kg/ha to field plots in Muskegon City, MI and tilled to 6 inches within 5 days, the 3 plot average in the 0-6 inch layer was 557 ug/kg after 5 days, 424 ug/kg after 122 days and 0 ug/kg after 241 days(3). No phthalic acid was detected in the 9-15 inch core at any of the sampling times(3). No phthalic acid was present in the soil prior to application(3).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), experimental Koc values of 2 and 31(2), indicate that phthalic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 6.36X10-7 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 6965 mg/L(5). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from its log Kow(7) and a regression-derived equation(8), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Phthalic acid completely disappeared from Mississippi River water in 2.5 to 5 wk at concns of 12.5 and 50 mg/L, respectively(9).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), phthalic acid, which has a vapor pressure of 6.36X10-7 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase phthalic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 13 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.24X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Particulate-phase phthalic acid may be removed from the air by wet or dry deposition(SRC). Due to its high water solubility and polar nature, phthalic acid is associated with water droplets(4) in the atmosphere and effectively scavenged by rain(5). Experiments suggest that diacids, which mostly exist as particles (aerosols) in the atmosphere, are removed more efficiently during wet precipitation than most water soluble compounds(5).

Cough. Sore throat.

Redness.

Redness.

Sore throat.

In a comprehensive survey of wastewater from 4000 industrial and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) sponsored by the Effluent Guidelines Division of the U.S. EPA, phthalic acid was identified in discharges of the following industrial categories (positive occurrences, median concn in ppb): leather tanning (3; 8.8), nonferrous metals (5; 5.0), paint and ink (6; 69.8), printing and publishing (1; 126.2), organics and plastics (5; 269.5), textile mills (3; 46.1), plastics and synthetics (6; 78.3), auto and other laundries (3; 22.9), pesticides manufacture (2; 2986.4), explosives (18; 29.5), foundries (7; 11.8), aluminum (3; 7.4), electronics (6; 60.6), organic chemicals (19; 32.3), mechanical products (2; 11.3), publicly owned treatment works (4; 3.3)(1). The highest effluent concns, and the only ones >1 ppm were 5969 ppb and 4761 ppb in the pesticides manufacture and organics and plastics industries(1). Effluent samples from the Kimberly-Clark Terrace Bay Mill in 1981 contained 0.16 and 0.56 mg/L of phthalic acid(2). Phthalic acid was found in effluent from advanced wastewater treatment plants in Lake Tahoe CA, Orange County CA, Dallas TX, and Washington DC (Blue Plains plant)(3). Phthalic acid was found at concns of 566.9 ug/L of fuel burned from motor vehicle traffic in a Los Angeles roadway tunnel(4). Phthalic acid was found in automobile exhaust: 1982 Toyota Corolla 15 nmol/cu m; 1971 Mercedes Benz 214 nmol/cu m(5).

/detected/ in primary sewage plant effluent: 2 mg/L

The Koc values were determined for an acidic forest soil (Podzol, 4.85% organic carbon, pH 2.8), an agricultural soil (Alfisol, 1.25% organic carbon, pH 6.7) and a sublimnic soil (sediment from Lake Constance, Germany, 1.58% organic carbon, pH 7.1) as 31, 2 and 2, respectively(1). According to a classification scheme(2), these Koc values suggest that phthalic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. Phthalic acid adsorbs strongly to aluminum and iron oxides via a surface ligand exchange reaction(3). Adsorptivity is sensitive to pH; for aluminum oxide the fraction absorbed is >0.8 below pH 6 and falls below 0.1 above pH 7.5(3).

Phthalic acid in soil may originate from lignin-type organic matter (phenols) which may be converted to aromatic diacids by microbial action(1). Phthalic acid has been found in Russian shale, bacteria, fungus, and Lily of the Valley oil (trace)(2).

URBAN/SUBURBAN: The ambient annual average concn of phthalic acid in fine particle organic compounds at four sites on a west to east trajectory, West Los Angeles, downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Rubidouc for 1982 were 60.6, 60.0, 55.7 and 53.5 ng/cu m, respectively(1). 24-Hr samples were collected at 6 day intervals over the year(1). Concns were lowest from Sept to January and highest in February(1). The concn of phthalic acid at a background site on San Nicolas Island, west of Los Angeles, averaged <0.03 ng/cu m from July to December(1). In a study of long-term transport of photochemical air pollution from coastal areas in Japan with large emission sources to inland mountains, the resulting mean concns of phthalic acid in airborne aerosols in a plume at Takasaki (July 26-31, 1986) and Karuizawa (July 29-31, 1986) were 22.1 and 19.5 ng/cu m, respectively(2). Phthalic acid was identified in airborne particulate matter from a suburban area 60 km northeast of Tokyo, Japan in April 1985(3). The concn range of phthalic acid in aerosol samples (n=21) collected from the spring of 1988 to the winter of 1989 in Tokyo, Japan was 4.9-30 ng/cu m(4).

URBAN/SUBURBAN: Monitoring of phthalic acid in Los Angeles, CA in 1984: West Los Angeles (n=8) 0.12-1.76 nmol/cu m; downtown (n=2) 1.38-1.95 nmol/cu m; greenhouse (n=2) 0.15-0.55 nmol/cu m(1). Atmospheric concns of phthalic acid were measured in the southeastern United States from April 1999 to January 2000; North Birmingham, Al 5.88 ng/cu m, Jefferson Street, Atlanta, GA 5.98 ng/cu m, Gulfport, MS 2.32 ng/cu m, Pensacola, FL 2.87 ng/cu m and OLF#8, FL 2.07 ng/cu m(3). Tokyo aerosol concns: Feb 1992 (n=2): 130 ng/cu m, 85 ng/cu m; July 1992: (n=2) 135 ng/cu m, 157 ng/cu m(2). Phthalic acid was the third most abundant diacid in Tokyo, Japan aerosols(2). A study of water-soluble organic compounds in urban atmospheric particles from Kobe City, Japan found that phthalic acid was detected in the 0.43-1.1 um size fraction with concentrations of <2.80 ng/cu m from Aug 3-14, 1998, 3.03 ng/cu m from Oct 7-19, 1998, 4.20 ng/cu m from Mar 1-26, 1999 and 3.64 ng/cu m from Apr 27- May 17, 1999(4).

URBAN/SUBURBAN: Wintertime atmospheric concentrations of phthalic acid were measured in Fresno, CA as 9.16 ng/cu m for the sampling period Dec 26-28, 1995 and 9.09 ng/cu m for the sampling period of Jan 4-6, 1996(1). Wintertime concentrations were also measured in Bakersfield, CA as 6.78 ng/cu m for the sampling period Dec 26-28, 1995 and 13.1 ng/cu m for the sampling period of Jan 4-6, 1996(9). Five urban sites were analyzed for phthalic acid in southern California in 1995; Long Beach 3.51 ng/cu m, Mira Loma 3.19 ng/cu m, Riverside 4.51 ng/cu m, San Dimas 4.54 ng/cu m and Upland 4.07 ng/cu m(2). Continental background aerosol levels of phthalic acid were measured in Tokyo, Japan, Vienna, Austria and Los Angeles, CA at 135 ng/cu m, 18 ng/cu m and 60 ng/cu m, respectively(3). Samples taken from four sites in the Los Angeles, CA area September 8-9, 1993 found an average of 80.2 ng/cu m of phthalic acid in atmospheric fine particulates(4).

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ There have been reports of conjunctivitis, bloody nasal excreta, atrophy of nasal mucosa, hoarseness, cough and bronchitis in workers employed on the production of phthalic acid and anhydride.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ ACUTE ... SYMPTOMS: Inhalation--cough, sore throat. Skin--redness. Eyes--redness, pain.

/CASE REPORTS/ ... A factory worker has been in contact with raw tributyl tin phthalate on one leg. Soon after taking a hot-water bath, he developed severely painful erythema on this leg. Patch tests and chemical analysis revealed that hot water hydrolyzed tributyl tin phthalate and produced concentrated phthalic acid.

/EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES/ A large population based case control study evaluated occupational exposures in 1,098 Danish males diagnosed with multiple myeloma from 1970 to 1984 and in 4,169 age and gender matched controls alive at the time of case diagnosis. Associations with phthalates persisted, but were inconsistent with duration and probability of exposure. /Phthalates/

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ The rapid proliferation of complex plastic polymers and resins has led to a marked incr of work induced asthma due to low molecular weight agents. Phthalates are frequently used in the manufacture of epoxy resins, plasticizers, adhesives and a wide variety of other materials. They have recently been identified as an important irritant and immunogen of at least four occupational respiratory syndromes, ie, asthma/rhinitis, late respiratory systemic syndrome,pulmonary disease-anemia syndrome, and an irritant reaction. /Phthalates/

Used as an analytical and laboratory reagent and to make medicines, dyes, phenolphthalein, phthalimide, anthranilic acid, and synthetic perfumes; [HSDB]

... Medicine ... Organic synthesis. Analytical reagent.

Dyes, phenolphthalein, phthalimide, anthranilic acid, synthetic perfumes, laboratory reagent.

This chemical is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S. in >1 million pounds in 1990 and/or 1994. The HPV list is based on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule. (IUR) (40 CFR part 710 subpart B; 51FR21438).

(1972) PROBABLY GREATER THAN 4.54X10+5 G

(1975) PROBABLY GREATER THAN 4.54X10+5 G

Production volumes for non-confidential chemicals reported under the Inventory Update Rule. [Table#3110]

Vapor-phase oxidation of naphthalene, catalyzed by vanadium and molybdenum oxides, followed by hydrolysis

Manufactured by catalytic oxidation of o-toluic acid and oxidation of xylene: Taylor, Dean, US 3064046 (1962 to I.C.I.); Cier, US 3088974 (1963 to Esso Res. & Eng.). Isolation from the fungus, Gibbererella fujikuroi.

Grade: Technical, reagent.

Typical assay (by titration) 99.5%/from sole US bulk producer/

Transformation products

Environmental transformation -> Pesticide transformation products (metabolite, successor)

METABOLITES

1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid: ACTIVE

o-Phthalic acid is seldom employed, since its anhydride is easier to use.

Phthalic anhydride is the principal commercial form of phthalic acid and it is presently manufactured by catalytic air oxidation of o-xylene or naphthalene.

Formed as a byproduct in the manufacture of phthalic anhydride.

Industrially unimportant.