Abstract DEHP has had widespread use in flexible vinyls, serving as the workhorse plasticizer. Extensive studies have shown that DEHP has a very low order of toxicity. Originally, concern developed over the effect DEHP might have on the environment. In 1980 results of two‐year feeding studies on rats and mice by NCI caused the emphasis to shift to health aspects of DEHP. Although evidence to date shows DEHP has extremely low order of toxicity (acute), is a minimal irritant to skin or eyes, and poses no hazard to the environment, the chemical industry will continue investigations of phthalate plasticizers.