Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in human urine and serum after a single oral dose of deuterium-labelled DEHP
Abstract
Human metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was studied after a single oral dose of 48.1 mg to a male volunteer. To avoid interference by background exposure the D4-ring-labelled DEHP analogue was dosed. Excretion of three metabolites, mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate (5OH-MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate (5oxo-MEHP) and mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP), was monitored for 44 h in urine and for 8 h in serum. Peak concentrations of all metabolites were found in serum after 2 h and in urine after 2 h (MEHP) and after 4 h (5OH-MEHP and 5oxo-MEHP). While the major metabolite in serum was MEHP, the major metabolite in urine was 5OH-MEHP, followed by 5oxo-MEHP and MEHP. Excretion in urine followed a multi-phase elimination model. After an absorption and distribution phase of 4 to 8 h, half-life times of excretion in the first elimination phase were approximately 2 h with slightly higher half-life times for 5OH- and 5oxo-MEHP. Half-life times in the second phase-beginning 14 to 18 h post dose-were 5 h for MEHP and 10 h for 5OH-MEHP and 5oxo-MEHP. In the time window 36 to 44 h, no decrease in excreted concentrations of 5OH- and 5oxo-MEHP was observed. In the first elimination phase (8 to 14 h post dose), mean excretion ratios of MEHP to 5oxo-MEHP and MEHP to 5OH-MEHP were 1 to 1.8 and 1 to 3.1. In the second elimination phase up to 24 h post dose mean excretion ratios of MEHP to 5oxo-MEHP to 5OH-MEHP were 1 to 5.0 to 9.3. The excretion ratio of 5OH-MEHP to 5oxo…
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DBP, DEHP, and BBP are among the best-studied phthalates; their biologically active metabolites include MnBP from DBP and MEHP from DEHP; DINP is also highly relevant.
“Among the best-studied representatives of this class of substances are dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). Their biologically active metabolites are produced by hydrolysis processes, such as mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) from DBP or mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) from DEHP. Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) is also highly relevant (Koch et al.”
From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Koch et al., 2004
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Högberg, J., Hanberg, A., Berglund, M., Skerfving, S., Remberger, M., Calafat, A. M., Filipsson, A. F., Jansson, B., Johansson, N., Appelgren, M., et al. (2008) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.10788 · Cited by 413 · see citing works
Phthalates: European regulation, chemistry, pharmacokinetic and related toxicity
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Occurrence of Phthalate Metabolites in Human Urine from Several Asian Countries
Guo, Y., Alomirah, H., Cho, H.-S., Minh, T. B., Mohd, M. A., Nakata, H., & Kannan, K. (2011) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es103879m · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Jocsak, G., Kiss, D. S., Alymbaeva, D., Diebald, A., Zsarnovszky, A., Heinzlmann, A., & Bartha, T. (2026) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2026.1821381 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) is also highly relevant (Koch et al., 2004; Saravanabhavan and Murray, 2012; Silva et al., 2007).”
- Authors
- Bolt, H. M., Angerer, J., & Koch, H. M.
- Affiliations
- TU Dortmund University (DE)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Angerer, J�rgen
- Venue
- Archives of Toxicology
- Published
- 2004-03-01
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 123-130
- ISSN
- 0340-5761 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-0738
- OpenAlex
- W1985018784
- Cited by
- 400
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 16.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Archives of Toxicology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Keywords
- DEHP, serum metabolites, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, elimination half-life, phthalate metabolites, single oral dose
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Deuterium, Diethylhexyl Phthalate, Half-Life, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Phthalic Acids
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