What it is
The shortest-chain phthalate diester, a colourless oily liquid historically used as an insect repellent carrier and plasticiser.
What it does
Solvent, plasticiser, and denaturant used in cosmetics, insect repellents, and plastics.
Why it’s a concern
DMP is less estrogenic than longer-chain phthalates in vitro but is still a phthalate with shared concerns about reproductive and developmental effects. It readily hydrolyses to monomethyl phthalate, which has been detected in human urine and amniotic fluid.
Also known as
DMP
CAS numbers
131-11-3
Commonly found in
insect repellentolder cosmeticsplastics
Safer alternatives
- plant-based solvents
- acetyl tributyl citrate
Related chemical families
Sources
- ATSDR Toxicological Profile for DMP