Year: 2010
Type: report
Abstract: Summary\nSjögren B, Iregren A, Järnberg J. The Nordic Expert Group for Criteria\nDocumentation of Health Risks from Chemicals. 143. Phosphate triesters with\nflame retardant properties. Arbete och Hälsa 2010;44(6):1-220.\nThis document comprises the following phosphate triesters:\nTricresyl phosphate TCP Triethyl phosphate TEP\nTris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate TBEP TIPP\nTri-n-butyl phosphate TBP\nTriisopropylated phenyl phosphate/\nisopropylated triphenyl phosphate\nTris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate TCEP Tris(monochloropropyl) phosphate TMCPP\nTris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate TDCPP Triphenyl phosphate TPP\nTris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate TEHP\nThe phosphate triesters are mainly used as flame retardants and plasticisers. They\ndiffer widely in physical properties as well as toxicological profiles and toxic\npotency. Most of these esters have low vapour pressures and are presumably absorbed\nto a substantial degree by the skin. The dermal exposure route may therefore\nbe more important than inhalation.\nHuman toxicological data on the phosphate triesters are scarce, particularly\nregarding occupational inhalation exposure. Based on animal data, the critical\neffects vary depending on substance and include cholinesterase inhibition, neurotoxicity,\ncancer, reproductive toxicity, and liver and kidney toxicity.\nOrganophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) has been associated\nwith exposure to some triaryl phosphates. The most well-known example is the\nTCP isomer tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), which has been associated with\nnumerous cases of poisoning worldwide. The TOCP content is therefore kept at\na very low level in commercial phosphate ester products of today. Commercial\nproducts of TCP, TIPP and TPP may, however, contain other triaryl phosphates\nassociated with OPIDN. Several other phosphate triesters have shown other (non-\nOPIDN) neurotoxic effects in animals.\nSome of the esters covered in this document exhibit carcinogenic effects in\nanimals (TBP, TCEP, TDCPP and TEHP), whereas TCP shows no such potential.\nThe other esters have not been properly tested.\nThe lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) of the phosphate triesters\nrange from 5 to 600 mg/kg bw/day. The no observed adverse effect levels\n(NOAELs), only identified for TBEP, TBP and one commercial product of TIPP,\nare in the range 9-20 mg/kg bw/day.
Authors: Bengt Sjögren, Anders Iregren, Jill Järnberg
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2152343740