title: Urinary phthalate monoesters concentration in couples with infertility problems.
abstract: The widespread use of phthalates results in human exposure: phthalates are rapidly metabolized to their respective monoesters and other oxidative products, which are glucuronidated and excreted through the urine and feces. Several in vivo studies showed that some phthalates, in particular diethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di(n-butyl)phthalate (DnBP) and n-butylbenzylphthalate (BBzP), are able to interact with the human endocrine system, interfering with the reproduction ability. In this study, 56 couples were recruited from a centre of assisted reproduction. Spot urine samples were collected and five urinary metabolites of the above phthalates were determined using an HPLC/MS/MS analytical method with isotopic dilution. The results were compared with those of 56 couples of parents of one or more children and the statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of urinary concentrations of phthalates metabolites. A further step will be the correlation of these results with information on the life styles and working conditions collected through a specifically designed questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: INAIL Research, Department of Occupational Medicine, Via di Fontana Candida 1, 00040 Monteporzio Catone, Rome, Italy. giovanna.tranfo@ispesl.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tranfo
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caporossi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paci
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romanzi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capanna
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Papaleo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid