Dibutyl is a type of butyl ester composed of carbon and hydrogen, which forms only single bonds. Dibutyl sebacate (DBS) is a yellowish liquid used as a plasticizer in packaging, coatings, and synthetic rubber. DBS is also found in food, cosmetics, and fragrances. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is another common ester used in plastics and cosmetics, but it has been found to have endocrine disrupting effects. Exposure to DBP can come from unexpected sources such as food packaging and industrial areas. It can accumulate in the fatty tissue of fish and shellfish.
The term dibutyl refers to a type of butyl ester that is classified as an aqueous hydrocarbon and a member of the alkane family, meaning it is composed of carbon and hydrogen. As an alkane, dibutyl forms only single bonds, giving the organic compound the generic chemical formula of CnH2n+2. However, this substance is also an isomer of octane, which means it is highly combustible and produces carbon dioxide and water when burned.
Once bound, dibutyl esters can take various forms. For example, dibutyl sebacate (DBS) is an ester of sebacic acid, a naturally occurring substance obtained from the volatile oil of castor beans. DBS is a yellowish liquid insoluble in water but soluble in some solvents, including acetone, ethanol and toluene. Its chemical composition gives it a low degree of combustion and helps it to preserve its properties when heated below certain temperatures. As such, DBS has an application as a plasticizer and is primarily used in the manufacture of plastic packaging and coatings, as well as to produce synthetic rubber.
DBS is also found in various consumer products. For example, it is a food additive in many kinds of baked goods, hard candy, ice cream and soft drinks. It is also used to make the enteric coating on oral medications. DBS is also used as an emulsifying agent in skin lotions, hair conditioners and shaving creams. Additionally, DBS is added as a solvent to extract fragrance from various oils used to make perfumes, colognes, aftershave lotions, and body splashes.
Another common type of ester is dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which is synthesized from butanol and phthalic anhydride. Like DBS, this substance is also used in the plastics industry and in the production of many types of cosmetics. In fact, its characteristics as a plasticizer made it once a common ingredient in nail polish. However, DBS has been found to have endocrine disrupting effects in animals and is suspected to pose similar risks in humans. Thus, US nail polish manufacturers began phasing out the use of DPB in 2006, while the European Union banned its use altogether thirty years earlier.
Unfortunately, exposure to DBP can come from a variety of unexpected sources other than nail polish. In fact, one of the biggest sources of exposure comes from food as it can leak from containers and packaging used to wrap certain perishable goods. Because DBP can survive in the environment as a particle or gas, it is also found in varying concentrations in the air, soil and water supply in industrial areas. Since DBP biodegrades rather rapidly in water and soil, it is unlikely to be transported to other regions. However, it can migrate to marine life as it accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish and shellfish.
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