title: Exposure to phthalates among premenstrual girls from rural and urban Gharbiah, Egypt: a pilot exposure assessment study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phthalates have been identified as endocrine active compounds associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity. The exposure to phthalates in premenstrual Egyptian females remains unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize phthalate exposure of a potentially vulnerable population of premenstrual girls from urban and rural Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected one spot urine sample from 60 10-13 year old females, 30 from rural Egypt, and 30 from urban Egypt from July to October 2009. Samples were analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites. Additionally, we collected anthropometrics as well as questionnaire data concerning food storage behaviors, cooking practices, and cosmetic use. Phthalate metabolite concentrations were compared between urban and rural Egyptians as well as to age and gender matched Americans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monoethyl phthalate (MEP), was detected at the highest concentration in urine of Egyptian girls (median: 43.2 ng/mL in rural, 98.8 ng/mL in urban). Concentrations of urinary metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and dibutyl phthalate were comparable between Egyptians and age matched US girls. Storage of food in plastic containers was a statistically significant predictor of urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) concentrations when comparing covariate adjusted means.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites were similar in Egyptian and US populations, suggesting that phthalate exposure also occurs in developing nations. Dietary intake is likely an important route of exposure to phthalates in both urban and rural populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Colacino
authors.forename: Amr S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Muna S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Zomeren-Dohm
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hablas
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Seifeldin
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rozek
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dolinoy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004534:Egypt; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D018857:Food Packaging; D006803:Human Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012423:Rural Health; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010795:Phthalic Acids