title: Concentrations of phthalates and DINCH metabolites in pooled urine from Queensland, Australia.
abstract: Dialkyl phthalate esters (phthalates) are ubiquitous chemicals used extensively as plasticizers, solvents and adhesives in a range of industrial and consumer products. 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, diisononyl ester (DINCH) is a phthalate alternative introduced due to a more favourable toxicological profile, but exposure is largely uncharacterised. The aim of this study was to provide the first assessment of exposure to phthalates and DINCH in the general Australian population. De-identified urine specimens stratified by age and sex were obtained from a community-based pathology laboratory and pooled (n=24 pools of 100). Concentrations of free and total species were measured using online solid phase extraction isotope dilution high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations ranged from 2.4 to 71.9ng/mL for metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and from <0.5 to 775ng/mL for all other metabolites. Our data suggest that phthalate metabolites concentrations in Australia were at least two times higher than in the United States and Germany; and may be related to legislative differences among countries. DINCH metabolite concentrations were comparatively low and consistent with the limited data available. Ongoing biomonitoring among the general Australian population may help assess temporal trends in exposure and assess the effectiveness of actions aimed at reducing exposures.
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: m.gomezramos@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gomez Ramos
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: amy.heffernan@uqconnect.edu.au.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health and Social Work, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: leisamaree.toms@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: L M L
authors.initials: LML
authors.lastname: Toms
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: aic7@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: xay5@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Taringa, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: Peter_Hobson@snp.com.au.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.affiliation: Australian Government Department of the Environment, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Electronic address: Sara.Broomhall@environment.gov.au.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broomhall
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: j.mueller@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D011793:Queensland; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C558012:diisononyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid
keywords: Australia; Biomonitoring; Children; DINCH; Phthalates; Plasticizers; Population monitoring; Urine