Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP)
- Esters
- CAS 78-51-3
- IUPAC: Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate
CarCareTruth tracks Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) (CAS 78-51-3) as a car-care ingredient.
Low acute toxicity at product-use concentrations. No GHS acute hazard classification at finished-product level for typical use concentrations. EPA has reviewed TBEP under TSCA; classified as a high-priority substance for risk evaluation due to aquatic hazard profile and environmental persistence. No Prop 65 listing. No H-code hazard at finished-product concentrations found in automotive polish and wax applications.
Tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP) is an organophosphate plasticizer and flame retardant widely used in floor waxes, auto polishes, and coatings. It provides coupling and plasticizing properties in polymer-based systems. While not acutely toxic at consumer product concentrations, TBEP has documented aquatic toxicity (LC50 data exists for fish, daphnia, and algae) and is bioaccumulative (log Kow approximately 3.7). EPA listed TBEP as a high-priority substance under TSCA in 2019. Leave-on vehicle products containing TBEP contribute to environmental exposure through rain and wash runoff over the product's service life.
Health & environment profile
- VOC
- no
- Prop 65 listed
- no
- Asthmagen
- no
- EPA Safer Choice
- no
- Aquatic toxicity
- yes
- Biodegradable
- no
- Bioaccumulative
- yes
- Persistent
- yes
- Ozone depleting
- no
- Microplastic
- no
- PFAS
- no
- Env. score
- 3/5
Common questions about Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP)
- What is Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) used for in car care?
- Flame retardant and plasticizer used in floor polishes, waxes, and coatings; acts as a coupling agent and provides flexibility in polymer films
- Is Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) a VOC?
- No. Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
- Is Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) on California's Proposition 65 list?
- No. Tributoxyethyl Phosphate (TBEP) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
No products on file contain this (yet)
Related
Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.