Phthalate Exposure and Health-Related Outcomes in Specific Types of Work Environment

Abstract

Many toxic substances in the workplace can modify human health and quality of life and there is still insufficient data on respiratory outcomes in adults exposed to phthalates. The aim of this work was to assess in waste management workers from the Nitra region of Slovakia (n = 30) the extent of exposure to phthalates and health-related outcomes. Four urinary phthalate metabolites mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MnBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Urinary concentration of MEHP was positively associated with ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity % (FEV1/FVC) (r = 0.431; p = 0.018) and MiNP with fat free mass index (FFMI) (r = 0.439; p = 0.015). The strongest predictor of pulmonary function was the pack/year index as smoking history that predicted a decrease of pulmonary parameters, the FEV1/FVC, % of predicted values of peak expiratory flow (PEF % of PV) and FEV1 % of PV. Unexpectedly, urinary MEHP and MINP were positively associated with pulmonary function expressed as PEF % of PV and FEV1/FVC. We hypothesize that occupational exposure to phthalates estimated from urinary metabolites (MEHP, MiNP) can modify pulmonary function on top of lifestyle factors.

The human biomonitoring of occupational exposure to phthalates

“…The urinary concentration of MnBP in our study in exposed group (median 108.63 μg/l ) is comparable with the study of Becker et al (2009) realised in German children, but higher than in workers in PVC compounding (median 22.6 μg/l ) PVC film (25.9 μg/l ) (Hines et al, 2009) and also with our previous results in communal services workers (median 67.13 μg/l) (Kolena et al, 2014), and studies in general population of the USA, Germany and Japan (Blount et al, 2000;Koch & Calafat, 2009;Itoh et al, 2007). In contrast with the results of Hines et al, (2009) realised in workers of phthalate manufacturing and rubber house at mid shift (median 230, 334 μg/l ) we recorded lover median values.…”

“…However they are lower than in plastisol coating (median 55.9 μg/l ) and PVC 1 compounding (median 52.0 μg/l ) (all of the above urine samples were collected post-shift) (Gaudin et al, 2011). In comparison with our previous study in workers from communal services (Kolena et al, 2014) median values in plastic industry was 7-fold higher. The urinary concentration of MEHP in studied general population (median 21.62 μg/l) was higher in comparison with control group from Gaudin et al (2011) (median 4.8 μg/l ).…”

“…Detected levels of MiNP in urine samples from exposed group (median 13.65 μg/l ) was higher with detection frequencies 83.8 % in comparison with our previous study in communal services workers, wherein the concentration of MiNP was low and close to the detection limit, with detection frequencies of 10% (median < LOD; 95th percentile 14.89 μg/l ) (Kolena et al, 2014). Statistically significant differences was found only in high-molecular weight phthalates, which are predominantly used as a plasticizers in industry .…”

Considerable exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemicals phthalates and bisphenol-A in intensive care unit (ICU) patients

“…(100-1000) higher than reported in different populations and even in workers occupationally exposed during PVC manufacturing (Blount et al, 2000;Dirtu et al, 2013;Hines et al, 2009;Hines et al, 2012;Koch et al, 2012;Kolena et al, 2014;Latini, 2005;Weuve et al, 2006). These levels are proof of a high and continuous level of exposure throughout the period of biomonitoring in the ICU.…”

Hormones and Human and Nonhuman Primate Growth

“…A comparative gas-liquid chromatograph analysis of chimpanzee, orangutan, and rhesus macaque plasma supported the notion that great apes show the closest similarity in patterning of steroid sulfates as humans in pregnancy as well as postnatal life [44]. While early cross-sectional studies in captive chimpanzees [45] and studies of fecal samples collected from wild chimpanzees failed to replicate the finding of an age-related increase in DHEA/DHEAS similar to humans in chimpanzees [46], other studies have corroborated this finding – in bonobos [47] as well as chimpanzees [48, 21]. It has been proposed that relatively low levels of DHEA/DHEAS until later in postnatal life – a substrate that could be converted into other more potent androgens and estrogens – serves to delay the onset of puberty in chimpanzees and humans relative to macaques (see below).…”