What is the Difference Between DEHT and DEHP?

DEHT (di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate) and DEHP (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) are both phthalates, which are chemical compounds used as plasticizers in various products. However, there are some differences between the two:

• Chemical Structure: DEHT and DEHP have slightly different chemical structures. DEHT is also known as dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), while DEHP is sometimes referred to as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or dioctyl phthalate (DOP).
• Applications: Both DEHT and DEHP are used in a wide range of consumer products, such as food packaging materials, flooring, furniture materials, medical devices, and personal care products. DEHP, in particular, is used in medical devices like intravenous (IV) bags and tubing, umbilical artery catheters, blood bags, and infusion tubing. DEHT has been increasingly used as a replacement for DEHP in some applications due to concerns about DEHP's toxicity.
• Toxicity: DEHP is considered highly toxic, with an LC50 of 0.50 ppm, and can lead to embryo mortality and typical toxicity symptoms, such as tail curvature, necrosis, and cardiac edema. DEHP has been associated with various adverse health outcomes, including all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. DEHT, on the other hand, has a lower oral acute toxicity (LD50 > 25 g/kg in rats and mice) and does not induce hepatocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, or hepatocellular tumors like DEHP.
• Environmental Fate: DEHP is more soluble in materials like paint removers, gasoline, and oils than in water, and it does not evaporate easily. DEHT, as a replacement for DEHP, has been found to have a lower environmental impact, although not much information is available on its release from medical devices and consequent human exposure.

In summary, while DEHT and DEHP are both phthalates used as plasticizers, they have different chemical structures, applications, and levels of toxicity. DEHP is considered more toxic than DEHT and has been associated with various adverse health outcomes. DEHT has been increasingly used as a replacement for DEHP in some applications due to concerns about DEHP's toxicity and environmental impact.

Comparative Table: DEHT vs DEHP

DEHT and DEHP are both phthalate plasticizers, but they have different chemical structures and properties. Here is a table comparing the differences between DEHT and DEHP:

Unfortunately, the search results provided do not contain sufficient information to fill in the table with specific details about DEHT and DEHP. However, it is clear that both DEHT and DEHP are phthalate plasticizers, which are used to add flexibility to plastics. They are found in a wide variety of products, including flooring, wallpaper, auto upholstery, raincoats, toys, and food packaging.