Positive findings of mono-n-hexyl phthalate

Ensure the safety of your cosmetic products and their packaging

Recently, the substance mono-n-hexyl phthalate (MnHP) was detected in urine samples from children. On 13 February 2024, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published a list of possible substances that might lead to the occurrence of MnHP. Amongst others, mono-n-hexyl phthalate can appear in the human body as a metabolite of di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP).

Phthalates belong to a family of chemical agents that were primarily used as plasticisers for hard and brittle plastics. Due to their elastic properties, phthalates were used for the manufacture of many products. Today, however, their presence is largely prohibited or strictly regulated.

In 2013, DnHP was classified as toxic to reproduction and registered under REACH. In 2020, this substance was included in Annex XIV of this regulation prohibiting its use.

Currently, Germany's main Environmental Protection Agency UBA deals with the positive findings and aims to carry out the health assessment of the phthalate metabolite MnHP and to clarify the cause for the presence of this harmful substance.

The laboratory network from Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care supports you as a competent partner for analytical services. Initiate analysis for phthalates or, in particular, testing for the presence of DnHP with the greatest possible sensitivity.