Estimated daily intake and cumulative risk assessment of phthalate diesters in a Belgian general population

•Phthalate daily intakes were estimated for 261 Belgian participants.•Cumulative risk assessment was performed for 4 phthalates in a Belgian population.•13 children out of the 52 were exceeding hazard index of 1.•The dietary intake seemed to be the major route for DEHP exposure.

The daily intakes (DI) were estimated in a Belgian general population for 5 phthalates, namely diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), based on the urinary measurements of their corresponding metabolites. DI values ranged between