[Study on the level of phthalates in human biological samples].
OBJECTIVE
To monitor the level of phthalates in human biological samples.


METHODS
The concentrations of three commonly-used phthalate (di-ethyl phthalate, DEP; di-n-butyl phthalate, DBP; di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP) in the human biological samples were measured by using reversed-phase HPLC. The blood serum samples were collected from 52 women and 8 men, semen specimens from 36 men, and fat samples from 6 women and 5 men. All these people were randomly selected, from 23 to 50 years of age and residing in Shanghai. We also measured hormone levels of serum and conventional indices of semen specimens.


RESULTS
The three phthalates were detected in most of the biological samples, with median levels of 5.71 mg/L (ND-37.91 mg/L) in blood serum, 0.30 mg/L (0.08 -1.32 mg/L) in semen specimens, and 0.72 mg/kg (ND-2.19 mg/kg) in fat samples. The spearman correlation coefficients between concentrations of phthalates and levels of hormone in serum were 0.442 for DBP and E(2), and -0.486 for DEP and testosterone. There was a positive association between liquefied time of semen and semen concentrations of phthalates. The correlation coefficients were 0.456 for DEP, 0.475 for DBP, and 0.457 for DEHP, respectively. There was no significant difference between semen concentrations of phthalates and sperm density.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that people residing in Shanghai area are exposed to phthalates (particularly to DBP and DEHP) though the level is still relatively low.
Zhang
Yun-hui
YH
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Chen
Bing-heng
BH
Zheng
Li-x
LX
Wu
Xiao-yun
XY
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
C063898:DBP protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014157:Transcription Factors; C007268:1-(2-(dodecyloxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride; C032279:phthalic acid; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate