Biomonitoring of Mono(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Mono-N-Butyl Phthalate in Roma Children in Slovakia

Abstract

Background: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) presents two of the most commonly used phthalate plasticizers with a wide use mainly in production of PVC products, food packaging, medical devices, cosmetics and personal care products. Objectives: The aim of study was to assess exposure to phthalates based on the determination of urinary concentrations of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP)and monobutyl phthalate (MnBP) as primary metabolites of DEHP and DnBP in Roma children (n= 26; boys=12; girls= 14; average age 9.08 ± 3.57) in condition of Slovak republic. Methods: The urinary concentrations of MEHP and MnBP were determined by high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Results: The distribution of the MEHP levels ranged from 4.11 to 177.32 ng.ml-1 and from 56,41 to 628,52 ng.ml-1 in MnBP. The median value reached 14.53 ng.ml-1 in MEHP and 117.06 ng.ml-1 in MnBP. Statistically significant difference between the MEHP excretion and the age of a child (p?0.0079) within boys’ group was found. In addition, in the case of MnBP any statistically significant dependence of the MnBP concentration in the urine on the age of individuals (p?0.7) was observed. Conclusions: Our results suggest that sociodemographic and habitual behavior and lifestyle could affect concentration of phthalate metabolite in specific type of cohort (Roma population).

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n4p115