Definition of "diphenyl" [di•phe•nyl]

• See biphenyl. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Among the chemicals known to affect breast development and cancer susceptibility in animal studies, according to the report, are pesticides such as atrazine, used in agriculture; dioxins, an industrial pollutant found in some fatty foods; bisphenol A (BPA), found in some water bottles and canned foods; polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, and nonylphenol (a breakdown product found in certain laundry detergents)."
• "Among the chemicals detected in 99% to 100% of the subjects were such banned substances as cancer-causing PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls and flame retardants containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers, along with organochlorine pesticides, perchlorate and phthalates, compounds found in cosmetics, detergents, vinyl floors, toys, plastic bottles and hundreds of other products."
• "Wal-Mart now has turned its sights on polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, a class of compounds used since 1976 as flame retardants in electronics, furniture, sporting goods, pet supplies, curtains and toys, among other things."