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The results of the recent IARC Monographs evaluation of three chemicals – butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) – have now been published in The Lancet Oncology. The summary article presents the conclusions of IARC Monographs Meeting 142.
The three chemicals were all accorded high priority by the Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs during 2025–2029.
BBzP, DBP, and DINP are all high-production-volume chemicals that have been used primarily as plasticizers for flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) applications such as flooring and cables, but also in adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, cosmetics, and industrial solvents, and (for DBP) pharmaceuticals. After several countries imposed restrictions on use, for example in toys, childcare products and food contact materials, production of BBzP and DBP has declined, although production of DINP has increased since the 1980s.
BBzP, DBP, and DINP are widely present in air, water, soil, sediment, dust, and food. Biomonitoring studies worldwide clearly demonstrate ubiquitous exposure of the general population. Occupational exposure occurs among workers involved in automobile, PVC film and plastic manufacturing and processing, and recycling activities, as well as service-based occupations such as nail salon workers and health-care workers.
For each agent, the mechanistic evidence was strong, and the evidence for cancer in animals was either sufficient (for BBzP and DINP) or limited (for DBP). The evidence for cancer in humans was inadequate in each case.
The Working Group evaluated BBzP, DBP, and DINP each as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
The full scientific assessment will be published as Volume 142 of the IARC Monographs.
Sun M, Glass DG, Josephy PD, Mancini FR, Ogawa K, Blanc EB, et al.
Carcinogenicity of butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diisononyl phthalate
Lancet Oncol. Published online 3 July 2026;
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00334-7
