Esters ; urine ; Humans ; Phthalic Acids ; urine

OBJECTIVEConsuming phthalates may be due to the presence of food contact materials, such as plastic containers. In this study, we investigated the association between plastic container use and phthalate exposure in 2,140 Shanghai adults.

METHODSParticipants completed a questionnaire on the frequency of using plastic containers in different scenarios in the previous year (e.g., daily, weekly) and on the consumption of plastic-packaged foods in the previous three days (yes or no). Urinary phthalate metabolites were used to assess the association between phthalate exposure and the use of plastic containers.

RESULTSThe metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the most frequently detected in urine. The results revealed that phthalate exposure was associated with consumption of plastic-packaged breakfast or processed food items in the previous three days. The consumption of these two food items had strong synergistic effects on increasing urinary concentrations of most phthalate metabolites.

CONCLUSIONOur results of plastic-packaged breakfast and processed food may be explained by the use of flexible plastic containers, indicating the importance of risk assessment for the application of flexible plastic containers.

Adult ; China ; Cities ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Phthalic Acids ; metabolism ; urine ; Plastics ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels and influencing factors of phthalate internal exposure in pregnant women (gestation age ≤ 16 weeks).

METHODSDuring April to June in 2013, 1 020 pregnant women (gestation age ≤ 16 weeks) who had established the maternal care manual were recruited in maternal and child health hospital of Siming District, Xiamen city. Participators were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and antenatal examination and to provide a urine sample. Finally, 998 pregnant women who provided a urine sample and completed the questionnaire were enrolled. Adopting systematic sampling method, 100 ones were selected randomly among 998 pregnant women. High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandern mass was used to determine the concentration of five phthalate monoesters in each urine, including mono-n-methyl phthalate (MMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). Based on the measurements and questionnaire data, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the phthalate monoester levels and potential influential factors.

RESULTSThe detection rates of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP in 100 pregnant urine samples were 94%, 93%, 87%, 83%, 99%, respectively. And the urinary median uncorrected concentrations of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP in 100 urine samples were 20.56, 17.62, 10.15, 2.03, and 5.12 ng/ml, respectively. Specific gravity-corrected concentration were 20.81, 20.36, 12.88, 2.58, 5.00 ng/ml, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that: education degree was negatively associated with urinary concentration of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP, OR (95% CI) were 0.495 (0.253-0.966), 0.380 (0.191-0.755), 0.379 (0.186-0.774), 0.401 (0.196-0.819), 0.373(0.183-0.762), respectively. Participants who had hair permed and dyed during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MBP and MBzP, OR (95% CI) were 12.867 (1.240-133.525), 15.982 (1.367-186.911), respectively; Participants who use cosmetics during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MEP and MBP, OR (95% CI) were 2.977 (1.012-8.757), 4.440 (1.485-13.272), respectively; plastic bottled water consumption was positively associated with urinary concentrations of MEP and MEHP, OR (95% CI) were 3.780 (1.417-10.083), 2.699 (1.039-7.010), respectively; annual household income was negatively associated with urinary concentration of MMP, OR (95% CI) was 0.597 (0.372-0.959); individuals who took medications during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MEHP than non-takers, OR (95% CI) was 4.853 (1.084-21.732).

CONCLUSIONPregnant women whose gestation age was less than 16 weeks are generally exposed to phthalate. Phthalate internal exposure levels are significantly associated with most measured factors and the influencing factors with different phthalates internal exposure levels are different.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Maternal Exposure ; Phthalic Acids ; urine ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo provide more information for rational evaluation of potential risks of terephthalic acid (TPA), we studied the effects of TPA on rats' bladders in 90 days after TPA exposure.

METHODSSprague Dawley rats were subdivided into five groups, ingesting 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA respectively for a sub-chronic feeding study lasting for 90 days. Urine, serum and samples of brain, liver, lung, kidney, bladder, etc. were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSTPA ingesting decreased the value of urinary pH, and increased the contents of Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ in urine. The volume of 24 h urine was significantly increased in male rats in the 1% and 5% TPA groups. Urinary white sediment was found in both sexes, and its formation in male rats seemed more susceptible than that in female rats. Alpha 2u-globulin (AUG) in serum and urine of male rats was markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Fifteen cases of hyperplasia (simple or atypical) were determined in the 5% TPA ingesting group, 14/52 in male rats and 1/23 in female rats. Among them 3 male rats had no stone or calculus. Those with either bladder stones or hyperplasia were accompanied with urinary white sediments.

CONCLUSIONWhite sediment accompanied with elevated urine AUG is the basis of TPA induced urolith formation, and is also associated with TPA induced bladder epithelial cell proliferation. It can act as an early biomarker for the potential toxic effect of TPA.

Alpha-Globulins ; urine ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Female ; Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Phthalic Acids ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; drug effects ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Calculi ; chemically induced

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.
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

OBJECTIVEThe purposes of our study were to investigate the association between maternal urinary phthalate metabolites and the levels of inhibin B (INHB) and insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) in the cord blood in a Chinese pregnant population.

METHODSMaternal urine samples in the third trimester of pregnancy of 69 participants were collected and stored, and the samples of cord blood (10 ml) were collected at delivery between June 2011 and September 2012 in a comprehensive hospital of gynecology and obstetrics in Tianjin, China.Four phthalate metabolites, monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) were measured in the urine samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of INHB, INSL3 in the cord blood were tested by ELISA. Associations of phthalate exposure with INHB and INSL3 levels were determined by spearman correlation and multiple regression model analysis.

RESULTSThe median concentrations of observed metabolites in descending order were 49.74 µg/L for MMP, 24.96 µg/L for MEHP, 19.52 µg/L for MEP and 17.73 µg/L for MBP. The median concentrations of INHB and INSL3 were 89.09 and 106.21 ng/L.Significant negative associations between INHB and MMP(β' = -0.252), MEP(β' = -0.363) or the sum value (∑PAEs) (β' = -0.346) were found by the multiple regression model analysis. For INSL3, only the sum value (β' = -0.313) was inversely significantly associated with the levels of INSL3 in the cord blood.

CONCLUSIONSMaternal urinary phthalate metabolites were associated with INHB and INSL3 in the cord blood in a Chinese population.

Adult ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Inhibin-beta Subunits ; blood ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Phthalic Acids ; urine ; Pregnancy ; Proteins ; Testicular Hormones ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study injury of liver and kidney among the workers exposed to terephthalic acid(TPA), ethylene glycol(EG) and(or) dowtherm A(DOW), and research for early biological monitoring indexes.

METHODSBy using the method of occupational epidemiology, an investigation of industrial hygiene in a chemical fibre corporation was carried out and the changes of the liver and kidney functions were analyzed among the workers who had been exposed to TPA, EG, DOW.

RESULTSThe values of serum gamma-glutamyl traspetidase(GGT) and total bile acid(TBA) in TPA + EG + DOW group men were (35.45 +/- 16.09) U/L, (10.29 +/- 6.76) mumol/L respectively and the values of serum alanine transaminase(ALT) and TBA in TPA + EG + DOW group women were(30.68 +/- 8.58) U/L, (9.53 +/- 6.63) mumol/L respectively, significantly higher than those in TPA, DOW and control groups(P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with TPA, DOW and control groups, the values of urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and beta 2-2-microglobulim (beta 2-MG) in TPA + EG + DOW group of both men and women increased significantly(P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with(5.68 +/- 4.01) U/mmol Cr and (23.49 +/- 13.44) mg/mol Cr, and(6.68 +/- 4.68) U/mmol Cr and (22.80 +/- 13.00) mg/mol Cr, respectively. Analysis of regression indicated that both liver and renal injuries of the workers were evidently correlated with their exposure to TPA, EG and DOW after adjustment for the confounding factors such as sex, smoking, drinking, etc(P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONBased on available knowledge, it is reasonable to assume that the joint actions should be considered on the injury of liver and kidney caused by TPA, EG and(or) DOW among the workers. Serum ALT, GGT, TBA, urine NAG and beta 2-MG should be suggested as biomarkers for liver and kidney damage.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Bile Acids and Salts ; blood ; Ethylene Glycol ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Phenyl Ethers ; toxicity ; Phthalic Acids ; toxicity ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of terephthalic acid (TPA) on lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSFive groups of SD rats that ingested 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA, respectively, were included in a 90-day subchronic feeding study. Effects of TPA on levels of serum protein, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for concentration of ion.

RESULTSTPA decreased the level of serum T-AOC in a dose dependent manner. The contents of serum and bladder MDA significantly decreased in 1% and 5% TPA ingestion groups. Serum CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) lowered in groups of 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA. TPA subchronic feeding had no significant influences on serum TC, LDL or HDL, but increased serum TG, TP and ALB after administration of 0.04% and/or 0.2% TPA. Concentrations of urinary Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ were elevated in 1% and 5% TPA groups.

CONCLUSIONAntioxidative potential decreased after TPA exposure. MDA increase in serum and bladder tissues was one of the most important reactions in rats which could protect themselves against TPA impairment. The decrease of serum CuZnSOD was related to the excretion of Zn2+.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Ions ; urine ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phthalic Acids ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxides ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Weight Gain