Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, has been detected in breast milk in many countries; however, whether phthalate metabolite concentration and the detection rate in breast milk change postpartum is still unknown. We measured phthalate metabolite concentrations in breast milk in the first 6 months postpartum in women enrolled in the E-Da hospital from January to July 2017. A total of 56 breastfeeding mothers and 66 samples were included in this study. We analyzed the samples’ concentration of eight phthalate metabolites using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The concentration of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) was significantly higher in the first month, and then decreased over time. The detection rate of ono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) was low in the first month and then increased over time. Compared with a previous study published in 2011, the levels of MEHP and MiBP in breast milk were much lower in the present study, suggesting an increased awareness of the health risks of phthalate exposure after a food scandal occurred in Taiwan. This study provides information for evaluating newborns’ exposure to different kinds of phthalate through human milk in the postpartum period.
Highlights
Phthalates are used in the synthesis of polymers and as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride (PVC), which are widely employed as industrial chemicals [1]
We evaluated metabolites including mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), MCMHP, mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) in human breast milk, and the concentrations of phthalate metabolites and detection rates in breast milk are shown in Table 2, with MEHP, the primary metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), having the highest detection rate (87.88%) with a median concentration of 0.3 μg/L
MEHP was the most detected metabolite in human breast milk, suggesting postpartum mothers in this area are mainly exposed to this phthalate; interestingly, detectable DEHP metabolites in breast milk appears to be associated with the meal style during the postpartum period
Summary
Phthalates (diesters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid) are used in the synthesis of polymers and as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride (PVC), which are widely employed as industrial chemicals [1]. Many of our daily necessities or consumer products are fabricated from PVC, including packages for food or water [2], plastic bags, toys [3], medical devices [4], lubricants, insect repellents, and personal care products [5,6]; as a consequence, phthalates are widely distributed in food, water, soil, indoor air, and dust [7,8]. The production of phthalates has reached about 5 million tons per year [9,10], and in industrial countries around the world, including Taiwan, it is almost impossible to avoid exposure to plastic or plastic-containing products in daily life.
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