DINCH-gold+class+'09

Stephanie Millwood toc
 * __Di-isononyl-cyclohexane dicarboxylate (DINCH)__**

Abstract
Di-isononyl-cyclohexane dicarboxylate (DINCH) is a widely used plasticizer, a chemical used to make plastic more flexible. DINCH was created by a German company called BASF in 2002. It is used in plastics in place of harmful phthalates after the EPA banned phthalates. BASF claims that DINCH is safe for both people and the environment, but because it is used in many products that people are exposed to on a daily basis, including toys for children and baby bottles, many groups believe studies should be done to see if it is actually safe.

DINCH is one of the cheapest phthalate substitutes available. A ban on DINCH could increase the prices of many plastic products for both companies and consumers, and countries like China that get a large percentage of their income from plastic products could be affected.

The chemical should be investigated. DINCH is a new chemical, and relatively little is known about its impact on people or the environment. There are currently no publicly available peer reviewed studies on the toxicity of DINCH. Because many people, including babie are exposed to DINCH daily, and almost nothing is known about what long term affects it could have on people or the environment.

Background
DINCH is a colorless and practically odorless plasticizer, a chemical added to plastic to make it more flexible. It first became widely used in 2002 as a substitute for phthalate plasticizers, which can be harmful, and were banned from use in children’s toys by the US government in 2008. DINCH is now the most widely used phthalate substitute in the world. It is used to make plastic toys, medical equipment, and food packaging more flexible. It is used in the United States, Europe, and Asia. DINCH was popularized as a harmless alternative to once widely used phthalate plasticizers, but it has not been fully studied, and some scientists believe it may be dangerous. It is not banned anywhere, but European regulators have set a limit on how much of it people should be exposed to in a day.

[[image:qwertyuioplkjhgfdsazxcvbnm:Picture_1.png width="493" height="231" align="right" caption="DINCH is produced by hydrogenating DINP."]]Synthesis/Production
DINCH is produced by hydrogenation of diisononyl phthalate (DINP). For this to work, scientists had to develop a atalyst that would not be negatively affected by the presence of organic acids, which aromatic polycarboxylic esters often contain in small amounts, or form during the hydrogenation process. A family of catalysts based on ruthenium and supported on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2).

Human health implications
Because DINCH is a relatively new chemical (BASF began selling it in 2002), it has not been widely evaluated or studied. As of February 12, 2009, there was no publicly available data about its toxicity. Animal studies conducted by BASF for European food regulators suggested that DINCH can be harmful to animals. High and middle doses of DINCH caused kidney damage in male rats. This led European regulators to set a limit on the amount of the chemical people could be exposed to in a day. However, regulations like that are difficult to enforce. BASF has published studies that get close to predicting the amount of DINCH that can end up in food from plastic wrap or plastic bowls, but scientists do not know how much DINCH people, especially babies, are actually exposed to on a daily basis. For example, it is not known how much DINCH a baby could ingest from chewing on toys such as teething rings.

Environmental implications
BASF, the company that produces DINCH, claims that it is safe and has no negative impact on the environment. It was approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2006, and ruled safe for use in food packaging and medical equipment, but that has since been questioned. In 2001, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) conducted a study on non-phthalate plasticizers such as DINCH, and found mixed results. DINCH is used in plastic, which is often dumped in ladfills and in bodies of water, so it will eventually end up in the environment, but since it has only been in use for about 7 years, and plastic takes decades to decompose, large amounts of DINCH have not had a chance to have much of an impact on the environment.

Economic/Political Impact
California has passed two new laws that will eventually require companies to post all of the chemicals they use in their products on a publicly available online database. They will most likely also have to prove that the chemicals are safe. DINCH is one of the cheapest phthalate substitutes available. It is possible that if DINCH were to be banned, the cost of producing plastics would increase. The economies of countries such as China that draw a large percentage of their income from exporting toys and other plastic products might be negatively affected by a ban on DINCH if they ended up having to buy more expensive plasticizers, which could cause an increase in the prices of plastics worldwide.

Summary
Because it is relatively new, it is not known whether or not DINCH is harmful, or could become harmful to humans, animals, or the environment after prolonged exposure. There are currently no objective trusted studies published about its toxicity. One experiment has already proven that DINCH has some potential to be harmful. More studies should be conducted on DINCH to find out if it is dangerous.

Public Service Announcement About DINCH
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