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Priority Substances List Assessment Report for 

Nonylphenol and its Ethoxylates

3.0 Assessment of "Toxic" under CEPA 1999

3.3.1 Estimates of potential exposure to nonylphenol 

and its ethoxylates

Table 14 Reasonable worst-case/bounding estimates of intake of NP and NPE

by adult Canadians

Exposure 

medium

Assumptions Estimated

intake

(mg/kgbw

per day)

Comments Marg

of

exposu

1

Environmental media (indirect exposure)

Air - based on the maximum 

total concentration of NP 

(0.070 μg/m3) measured 

in

ambient air in coastal New 

York/New Jersey in 1998 

(Dachs et al., 1999)

- assumes a 24-hour 

inhalation volume of 16.2 

m3/day by an average 

Canadian

adult weighing 70.9 kg 

(EHD, 1998)

0.000 

016

- NPEs are much less 

volatile and would not 

be expected

to partition appreciably 

to air

7.5 × 

105

Water - based on maximum total 

NP1-17EO measured in 

surface waters across 

Canada

between 1991 and 1998 

(18.25 μg/L) in 

Canagagigue Creek 

upstream of Elmira

wastewater control plant 

in Ontario (Bennie, 

1998b)

- assumes mean 

consumption of 1.5 L/day 

of tapwater consumed as 

drinking

water plus that added to 

beverages by an average 

Canadian adult weighing 

70.9

kg (EHD, 1998)

0.000 39 - levels measured in 

drinking water in very 

limited

sampling from other 

countries were much 

lower

(Section 2.3.3.7)

3.1× 1

Soil - based on content of 0.000 - levels in sludge- 4.8× 1
NP+NP1EO+NP2EO in soil 

immediately after 

application of

sewage sludge in 

Switzerland (5.9 mg/kg) 

(Marcomini et al., 1989)

- assumes mean intake of 

30 mg/day of soil by an 

adult weighing 70.9 kg 

(EHD,

1998)

002 5 amended soil in other 

studies are

somewhat lower

Food Packaging

- based on the estimate of 

potential level of NP in the 

diet from food contact use

of TNPP of 19.8 ppb 

(0.0198 mg/kg) (The 

Society of the Plastics 

Industry, Inc.,

1998a) and of NPEs and 

NP in the diet from the 

use of NPEs in food 

contact

applications of 0.504 ppm 

(mg/kg) and 0.89 ppb 

(0.000 89 mg/kg), 

respectively

(The Society of the 

Plastics Industry, Inc., 

1998b)

- assumes mean 

consumption of 2.3 kg 

food/day by an average 

Canadian adult

weighing 70.9 kg (EHD, 

1998)

0.017 - these are considered 

reasonable worst-case 

estimates;

for the principal food 

contact polymers 

containing

TNPP/NPE, The Society 

of the Plastics 

Industry, Inc.

estimated the extent of 

migration into the diet 

as a whole,

based on the 

TNPP/NPE levels, food 

contact applications

and, in the case of 

TNPP, migration 

estimates from

studies that simulated 

or exaggerated the 

actual food

contact uses of the 

polymers (using food 

simulating

solvents and time and 

temperature conditions 

recommended

by the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration), 

and,

in the case of NPE 

applications, assuming 

that 100% of

the substance migrates 

into food (The Society 

of the

Plastics Industry, Inc., 

1998a,b)

706

Monitoring

- based on the mean 

content of NP in duplicate 

samples of uncured 

cooked pork

0.017 - these data do not 

include NPE

- no information on 

whether samples were 

in contact with

698
collected at a Toronto 

market (0.53 mg/kg) 

(Ramarathnam et al., 

1993)

- assumes a total 

consumption of 2.3 kg 

food/day, all of which 

contains the above

level of NP, by an average 

Canadian adult weighing 

70.9 kg (EHD, 1998)

food packaging source 

of NP/NPEs

- estimated mean 

intakes via food based 

on simple

bioaccumulation 

models were much 

lower; based on a soil

content of 5.9 mg/kg 

for NP+NP1EO+NP2EO 

(Marcomini

et al., 1989 

[summarized in 

previous row]), log 

Kow of 4.2

(approx. mean for 

these NP/NPEs 

[Section 2.0]), and

assuming the resultant 

levels in food apply to 

the food

group as a whole, 

estimated mean intake 

was 0.0015

mg/kg-bw per day 

based on regression 

models of

bioconcentration in 

plants and biotransfer 

to beef and milk

(Travis and Arms, 

1988), and <0.000 40 

mg/kg-bw per day

based on a fresh 

weight 

bioconcentration factor 

of <0.006

for whole potatoes 

(Danish EPA, in U.K. 

Environment

Agency, 1998)

Subsistence 

populations

- based on maximum 

content of 

NP+NP1EO+NP2EO in 

composite sample of

muscle from three fish 

species (5.78 mg/kg dw in 

Barbus barbus) and the

content of 

NP+NP1EO+NP2EO in 

muscle of a mallard duck 

(3.65 mg/kg dw)

from the Glatt Valley in 

Switzerland (where 

wastewater loadings were 

0.014 - available data for 

Canada are quite 

limited; levels of NP

in whole body of fish 

from Lake Ontario 

were much

lower (max. 0.043 

mg/kg fresh weight) 

(Bennie, 1998b)

857
reportedly

quite high)

- assumes water content 

of 75% in fish and 67% in 

duck (U.S. EPA, 1997a)

- assumes country food 

consumption 

recommended for highuse Amerindian

populations of 500 

g/capita per day for fish 

and 200 g/capita per day 

for small

game (Coad, 1994), by an 

average Canadian adult 

weighing 70.9 kg (EHD,

1998)

Direct (consumer products)

Skin 

moisturizer

- assumes a typical 

quantity of product used 

per event for "body lotion" 

of 8 g and

a maximum event 

frequency of 2 times per 

day for users only 

(ECETOC, 1994)

- based on the upper 

bound of the 

concentration of the range 

of >3 to 10% within

which the concentration of 

NPE in skin moisturizer 

falls (McIntyre, 1996; see

Table 3)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.10) (8 g) (2/day) 

(1000 mg/g)]/(70.9 kg)

22.6 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs contained in 

such "leave on"

products are absorbed 

across the skin to the 

same extent

as via the 

gastrointestinal tract; 

as discussed in the 

text,

dermal absorption is 

likely lower, although 

available

data are inadequate to 

quantitatively account 

for this

probable difference

0.5

Face makeup - assumes a typical 

quantity of product used 

per event for "foundation" 

of 0.265 g

and a maximum event 

frequency of once per day 

for users only (U.S. EPA,

1997b)

- based on the upper bou 

nd of the concentration of 

the range of 0.1% or less

within which the 

concentration of NPE in 

face makeup falls 

0.0037 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs contained in 

such "leave on"

products are absorbed 

across the skin to the 

same extent

as via the 

gastrointestinal tract; 

as discussed in the 

text,

dermal absorption is 

likely lower, although 

available

data are inadequate to 

3.2 × 

103
(McIntyre, 1996;

see Table 3)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.001) (265 mg) 

(1/day)]/(70.9 kg)

quantitatively account 

for this

probable difference

Deodarant - assumes a typical 

quantity of product used 

per event for "underarm 

deodorants"

of 0.52 g and a maximum 

event frequency of 1.29 

times per day for users 

only

(U.S. EPA, 1997b)

- based on the upper 

bound of the 

concentration of the range 

of >1 to 3% within

which the concentration of 

NPE in deodorant falls 

(McIntyre, 1996; see 

Table 3)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.03) (520 mg) 

(1.29/day)]/(70.9 kg)

0.28 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs contained in 

such "leave on"

products are absorbed 

across the skin to the 

same extent

as via the 

gastrointestinal tract; 

as discussed in the 

text,

dermal absorption is 

likely lower, although 

available

data are inadequate to 

quantitatively account 

for this

probable difference

43

Fragrance - assumes a typical 

quantity of product used 

per event for "colognes & 

toilet

water" of 0.65 g and a 

maximum event frequency 

of 1.71 times per day for 

users

only (U.S. EPA, 1997b)

- based on the upper 

bound of the 

concentration of the range 

of >3 to 10% within

which the concentration of 

NPE in fragrances falls 

(McIntyre, 1996; see 

Table 3)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.10) (650 mg) 

(1.71/day)]/(70.9 kg)

1.57 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs contained in 

such "leave on"

products are absorbed 

across the skin to the 

same extent

as via the 

gastrointestinal tract; 

as discussed in the 

text,

dermal absorption is 

likely lower, although 

available

data are inadequate to 

quantitatively account 

for this

probable difference

8
Laundry 

detergent

Active (from exposure 

while hand washing 

delicate fabrics)

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 28% NPE 

in liquid laundry detergent

(World Wildlife Fund 

Canada, 1997)

- assuming a frequency of 

use of once per week, a 

density of product of

1.13 g/cm3, a dilution 

fraction of 1:540 and a 

film thickness on skin of

4.99 × 10-

3 cm (Versar 

Inc., 1986)

- the exposed surface area 

(2 hands and 1/4 of arms) 

is assumed to be 1547 

cm2

(Health Canada, 1995)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.28) (1.13 g/cm3) (1/7 

days) (1/540) (4.99 × 10-

3 cm) (1547 cm2

) (1000 

mg/g)] / (70.9 kg)

0.0091 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the skin

to the same extent as 

via the gastrointestinal 

tract; as

discussed in the text, 

dermal absorption is 

likely lower,

although available data 

are inadequate to 

quantitatively

account for this 

probable difference

Passive (exposure from 

detergent left on clothing, 

etc.)

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 28% NPE 

in liquid laundry detergent

(World Wildlife Fund 

Canada, 1997)

- assuming a frequency of 

event of 365 days per 

year, a transfer factor of 

0.1 and

an amount of product 

deposited on fabric of 4 × 

10-5 mg/cm2(Versar Inc., 

1986)

- the exposed surface area 

(whole body minus head 

and hands) is assumed to 

be

16 015 cm2(Health 

Canada, 1995)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

0.00025 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the skin

to the same extent as 

via the gastrointestinal 

tract; as

discussed in the text, 

dermal absorption is 

likely lower,

although available data 

are inadequate to 

quantitatively

account for this 

probable difference

1.3× 1
[(0.28) (1/day) (0.1) (4 × 

10-5 mg/cm2) (16 015 

cm2)] / (70.9 kg)

Household 

cleaner

Inhalation

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 5% NPE 

in all-purpose spray 

cleaner

(World Wildlife Fund 

Canada, 1997)

- assuming a mass of 76 g 

is used per event, a 0.47-

hour duration of exposure,

an overspray fraction of 

0.04, a room volume of 20 

m3, a breathing rate of

1.3 m3/hour for an 

average adult during lightlevel activity and a 

frequency of

use of 360 days per year 

(Versar Inc., 1986)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.05) (76 000 mg) (0.47 

hour) (0.04) (1.3 

m3/hour) (360/365 days)] 

/ (70.9 kg) ( 20 m3)

0.065 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the lung

to the same extent as 

via the gastrointestinal 

tract

Dermal

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 5% NPE 

in all-purpose spray 

cleaner

(World Wildlife Fund 

Canada, 1997)

- assuming an event 

frequency of 360 days per 

year, an exposed surface 

area of

400 cm2(both palms), a 

product density of 0.88 

g/cm3and a film thickness 

on

the hands of 2.1 × 10-

3 

cm (Versar Inc., 1986)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.05) (360/365 days) 

(400 cm2) (0.88 g/cm3) 

(2.1 × 10-

3 cm) (1000 

0.51 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the skin

to the same extent as 

via the gastrointestinal 

tract; as

discussed in the text, 

dermal absorption is 

likely lower,

although available data 

are inadequate to 

quantitatively

account for this 

probable difference

21
mg/g)] / (70.9 kg)

Latex or oilbased paints- based on a maximum 

concentration of 3% NPE 

in latex paint (WHO, 

1998)

- assuming an event 

frequency of 7 days per 

year, an exposed surface 

area of

220 cm2(10% of face, 

hands and forearms), a 

film thickness on the 

hands of

9.81 × 10-

3 cm and a 

product density of 1240 

mg/cm3(Versar Inc., 

1986)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.03) (7/365 days) (220 

cm2) (9.81 × 10-

3 cm) 

(1240 mg/cm3)] / (70.9 

kg)

0.022 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the

s ki n to the same 

extent as via the 

gastrointestinal

tract; as discussed in 

the text, dermal 

absorption is

likely lower, although 

available data are 

inadequate

to quantitatively 

account for this 

probable difference

545

Spray paints Inhalation

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 3% NPE 

in paints (WHO, 1998)

- assuming a mass of 460 

g is used per event, a 

0.17-hour duration of 

exposure,

an overspray fraction of 

0.73, a room volume of 20 

m3, a breathing rate of

1.3 m3/hour for an 

average adult during lightlevel activity and a 

frequency of

use of 1 event per year 

(Versar Inc., 1986)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.03) (460 000 mg) 

(0.17 hour) (0.73) (1.3 

m3/hour) (1/365 days)] / 

(70.9 kg) (20 m3)

0.0043 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the lung

to the same extent as 

via the gastrointestinal 

tract

Dermal

- based on a maximum 

concentration of 3% NPE 

in paints (WHO, 1998)

0.0013 - assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the skin

to the same extent as 

2.1× 1
- assuming an event 

frequency of 1 event per 

year, an exposed surface 

area of

190 cm2(10% of both 

hands and forearms), a 

film thickness on the skin 

of

6.55 × 10-

3 cm and a 

product density of 0.9 

g/cm3(Versar Inc., 1986)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

[(0.03) (1/365) (0.9 

g/cm3) (190 cm2) (6.55 × 

10-

3 cm) (1000 mg/g)] / 

(70.9 kg)

via the gastrointestinal 

tract; as

discussed in the text, 

dermal absorption is 

likely lower,

although available data 

are inadequate to 

quantitatively

account for this 

probable difference

Spermicides - the amount of NP9EO 

applied as used in 

contraceptive preparations 

ranges from

50 to 140 mg per vaginal 

application (Talmage, 

1994)

- body weight of 70.9 kg 

is assumed for an average 

Canadian adult (EHD, 

1998)

0.71-1.97 - this is an estimated 

intake per event

- assumes that the 

NP/NPEs are absorbed 

across the

vaginal epithelium to 

the same extent as via 

the

gastrointestinal tract

6

1 Ratio of the lowest effect level identified in a study by relevant route of exposure 

(LOEL of 12 mg/kg-bw per day, the lowest average dose of NP for male rats 

exposed in the diet across three generations in a reproductive study, at which renal 

histopathological effects were observed in each generation) (NTP, 1997; Chapin et 

al., 1999) to the estimated intake.

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