Objective To establish the threshold of toxicological concern(TTC) approach and to apply it in the risk assessment of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP) as a model chemical for food contact materials.Methods TTC decision tree approach was established and DEHP was classified into Cramer systems based on both Cramer schematic diagram and Toxtree software to classify DEHP into Cramer systems.DEHP exposure in general population as well as in four age population groups was estimated by using data from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey and data from DEHP surveillance on beverage,vegetable oil,fermented milk,instant noodle,fruit,vegetable-based jelly and fruit jam in China.TTC decision tree approach was used for risk assessment and the exposure was compared with the corresponding TTC value.Tolerable daily intake(TDI)-based risk assessment was also carried out to verify the results from TTC approach.Results DEHP belongs to class I Cramer and its TTC value was 30 μg/kg BW.The maximum dietary exposures of general population and four age groups were 4.06 and 11.10 μg/kg BW,respectively.These exposure values accounted for 13.5% and 37.0% of TTC for DEHP and accounted for only 8.1% and 22.2% of TDI for DEHP.Similar results can be derived from both TTC approach and TDI-based approach.Conclusion TTC decision tree approach is a useful tool for prior screening and primary risk assessment of food contact materials.Dietary exposure of DEHP in Chinese population is low and no health concern is required.