J Prev Med Public Health.  2010 Jul;43(4):301-308. 10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.4.301.

Assessment of Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure by Urinary Metabolites as a Function of Sampling Time

• Park MS
• Yang YJ
• Hong YP
• Kim SY
• Lee YP

• KMID: 1094107
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.4.301

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In most DEHP exposure assessment studies, single spot urine sample was used. It could not compare the exposure level among studies. Therefore, we are going to represent the necessity of selection of proper sampling time of spot urine for assessing the environmental DEHP exposure, and the association urinary DEHP metabolites with steroid hormones.
METHODS
We collected urine and plasma from 25 men. The urine sampling times were at the end of the shift (post-shift) and the next morning before the beginning of the shift (pre-shift). Three metabolites of DEHP {mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [MEHP], mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate [MEHHP], and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate [MEOHP]} in urine were analyzed by HPLC/MS/MS. Plasma luteinzing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone, and 17beta-estradiol were measured at pre-shift using a ELISA kit. A log-transformed creatinine-adjusted urinary MEHP, MEHHP, and MEOHP concentration were compared between the post- and pre-shift. The Pearson's correlation was calculated to assess the relationships between log-transformed urinary MEHP concentrations in pre-shift urine and hormone levels.
RESULTS
The three urinary metabolite concentrations at post-shift were significantly higher than the concentrations in the pre-shift (p<0.0001). The plasma hormones were not significantly correlated with log-transformed creatinine - adjusted DEHP metabolites.
CONCLUSIONS
To assess the environmental DEHP exposure, it is necessary to select the urine sampling time according to the study object. There were no correlation between the concentration of urinary DEHP metabolites and serum hormone levels.

Keyword

DEHP metabolites; Exposure; Sampling time; Steroid hormones; Urine; HPLC/MS/MS

MeSH Terms

Adult
Diethylhexyl Phthalate/analogs & derivatives/pharmacokinetics/*urine
Estradiol/blood
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood
Humans
*Laboratories, Dental
Luteinizing Hormone/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure/*analysis
Phthalic Acids/urine
Specimen Handling/*methods
Testosterone/blood
Time Factors