Posted By Jane Blunt
I have never used the stuff myself, but I think the spelling is
dioctyl phthalate (i.e. there is an 'h' after the 'p')

Google gives several leads.

Regards
Jane

Posted By Hilary Charlton
Try this one too

http://www.indoorduration.com/MSDS_DOP.htm

Hilary

Posted By John Murgatroyd
Sounds like nice stuff.
Get a shipload of it.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/e6500.htm

WARNING! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, LIVER, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. POSSIBLE CANCER HAZARD. MAY CAUSE CANCER BASED ON ANIMAL DATA. Risk of cancer depends on duration and level of exposure. MAY CAUSE ADVERSE REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS.

Posted By Neil Pearson
I'd recommend www.sigmaaldrich.com to access the RTECS data. You'll get more hits anyway searching for 2-ethylhexyl phthalate.

Posted By John Webster
The ILO's International Chemical Safety Cards lists the following synonyms for CAS 117-81-7

Di(2ethylhexyl)phthalate
Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Dioctylphthalate

Whichever convention is used to name it, it is believed to be especially damaging to children and young people, particularly males as it affects the development and functioning of the gonads.

Definitely one for a very thorough CoSHH assessment, and one where Mark Bywater's father's advice is well worth heeding (see "Matra" thread)

Posted By Heather Aston
DOP is widely used in the plastics and rubber industries and has attracted quite a lot of attention in recent years because of animal testing which has shown elevated levels of liver tumours in mice and reproductive effects and foetal abnormalities in rats.

Note that in both these studies the materials was actually fed to the animals - not exactly occupational exposure. However IARC has classified it as a category 2B carcinogen - possible human carcinogen on the evidence of animal testing.

Worth noting that it is a liquid so unless heated, the inhalation exposure route is less likely than with a powder.

Most of the studies have been concerned with the material migrating out of products such as plastic wrap for the food industry or plastic/rubber toys, which babies might put into their mouths.

As others have said, one to consider carefully, but still a widely used material in the polymer industries so quite a lot of research has been done, giving you quite a lot of data.

Heather

Posted By Jane Blunt
I agree that the ILO card lists dioctyl phthalate as a synonym for the compound that has a CAS number 117-81-7.

However, if you look up the CAS number 117-84-0 you will find that that compound also has the synonym dioctyl phthalate - see the NIOSH page http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/ti1d5f88.html

Thus we have direct evidence that the same name is being used for two different compounds and we must take care to be sure which we have.

For what its worth, I believe the ILO document to be in error, because in the absence of anything to indicate otherwise the use of the term 'octyl' implies a straight chain hydrocarbon, and this is the case in 117-84-0. The other compound is an isomer with symmetrical side chains. For those technically inclined you can find them in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. In the 76th Edition, the two compounds are entries 1334 and 1344.

Since they are isomers, they may have similar properties, although I notice that the melting point of 117-84-0 is +25 deg C and that of 117-81-7 is -55 deg C.

Jane

Posted By Heather Aston
And exactly the same problem described by Jane arises with iso and n- hexane and iso and n-propanol to name just two....

A good MSDS will give the CAS number and you should check it corresponds to the correct data if you have any doubt.

Bottom line Al is don't use the stuff (or indeed any stuff!) until and unless you have the MSDS to enable you to make an informed judegment.

In my experience, even suppliers who say "it's only a trial sample, we don't have a data sheet" produce one quick enough if you tell them the material can't come on your site without one. (as we do)

Heather