Cumulative Risk Assessment Based on Human Biomonitoring Data for Three Anti- Androgenic Phthalates Using the Maximum Cumulative Ratio in Iranian Children

摘要

The aims of this study were to estimate the profile, exposure and daily intake of five different phthalates, and to assess the health risks of the cumulative exposure to anti-androgenic phthalates in Iranian children. In the assessment of phthalate exposure, concentrations of three anti-androgenic phthalates including dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were analyzed in the spot urine sample of 56 Iranian school children aged 6-18 years. In this study, the hazard index (HI) approach is applied to estimate cumulative exposure to three anti-androgenic phthalates. Furthermore, the Maximum Cumulative Ratio (MCR) is used to quantify the degree to which a single chemical drives the cumulative risk of an individual exposed to multiple chemicals. Results: The range of the estimated daily intake was 0.01 ug/kg body weight/day for BBP and 17.85 for DEHP ug/kg body weight/day. However, the result of cumulative risk assessment suggested that the combine exposures to anti-androgenic phthalates were of relatively low concern (HI values in the surveyed participants averaged 0.2). The range of MCR value in the 56 participants was 1.1 to 2.32. The cumulative exposures of concern mainly originated from two of the three anti-androgenic phthalates including DBP and DEHP. Conclusions: Although the hazard index values for all anti-androgenic phthalates were below l,the detection of all phthalates metabolites in 92.9% of samples population indicates that children are exposed to mixture of phthalates simultaneously. In addition, aside the investigations of phthalates in this regard, take into account that children are exposed to numerous other chemicals with anti-androgenic properties which may also contribute to a cumulative anti-androgenic effect.