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(M/MF162) A critical review of phthalate ester literature on toxicity to terrestrial organisms. Gorsuch, Joseph1, Bradlee, Christopher2, Fairbrother, Anne3, Kapustka, Larry4, 1 2 3 4 ABSTRACT- A critical review of phthalate ester literature on toxicity to terrestrial organisms was performed for the American Chemistry Council's Phthalate Ester Panel. Eighty-seven papers reporting effects of phthalate esters on plants, terrestrial vertebrates, and soil invertebrates were reviewed. These papers consisted of 54 primary research reports and 33 review articles and contained 362 records pertaining to biological effects of phthalate esters, where a record is a measurement of one endpoint from exposure to one species to one phthalate ester. These records were distributed among 55 different taxa of plants, animals and soil microbes and 34 phthalate esters. Seventy percent of the records were on three compounds: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and di-n-butyl phthalate. These data support the general conclusion that soil concentrations up to 1,000 ppm pose no risk to plants or soil invertebrates. Moreover, animals can generally tolerate up to 10,000 ppm exposure in feed without any effects to the adults. Some plant species appear to be more sensitive to gaseous forms of the phthalate esters. While phthalate esters have very low acute toxicity to juvenile or adult terrestrial animals, reproductive effects have not been thoroughly evaluated. Microorganisms in the soil readily degrade phthalate esters, and some may thrive on elevated concentrations. Key words: terrestrial, invertebrates, plants, soil |
