Improved quantitative detection of three major Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in urine using isotope dilution GC/NCI-MS

摘要

Phthalates are widely used as industrial plasticizers, with global use exceeding four million tons per year. Because of the potential role in increasing risk for cancer and reproductive dysfunction, the need for human exposure assessment studies is urgent. In response to this need, we developed a simple, sensitive and reliable assay for simultaneous measurement of trace levels of three major Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) metabolites: mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxy hexyl)phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate (MEOHP) in human urine by GC/NCI-MS. We further used this method to investigate the neonates that exposure DEHP in a neonatal intensive care unit.