Priority Substances List Assessment Report for Di-n-Octyl Phthalate

4.0 Recommendations for Research and Evaluation

Acquisition of additional data in the following areas would permit a more complete evaluation of the effects of DnOP on human health and environmental organisms in Canada. At present, the priority for this work is considered to be low because DnOP is currently used in Canada in very small quantities.

1. Monitoring of DnOP in all environmental media (i.e., air, food, drinking water) to which Canadians are exposed and in surface water, air, sediment, and biota in the proximity of industrial sources.
2. Chronic toxicity tests on selected benthic organisms, algae, and rodents.
3. A carcinogenicity bioassay for DnOP in two species of experimental animals.
4. Additional data on developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and neurotoxicity of DnOP in another species (e.g., rats).

Based on consideration of other priorities for assessment under the Act, it is recommended that the results of a subchronic study on DnOP being conducted under contract to Health Canada be assessed for the determination of whether DnOP is "toxic" as defined under the Act.