Determination of phthalate monoesters in human milk, consumer milk, and infant formula by tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS)
Abstract
Daily exposure of humans to phthalates may be a health risk because animal experiments have shown these compounds can affect the differentiation and function of the reproductive system. Because milk is the main source of nutrition for infants, knowledge of phthalate levels is important for exposure and risk assessment. Here we describe the development and validation of a quantitative analytical procedure for determination of phthalate metabolites in human milk. The phthalate monoesters investigated were: monomethyl phthalate (mMP), monoethyl phthalate (mEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP), monobenzyl phthalate (mBzP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (mEHP), and monoisononyl phthalate (mNP). The method is based on liquid extraction with a mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane (95:5) followed by two-step solid-phase extraction (SPE). Detection and quantification of the phthalate monoesters were accomplished by high-pressure liquid chromatography using a Betasil phenyl column (100 mmx2.1 mmx3 microm) and triple tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Detection limits were in the range 0.01 to 0.5 microg L(-1) and method variation was from 5 to 15%. Analysis of 36 milk samples showed that all these phthalates were present, albeit at different concentrations. Median values (microg L(-1)) obtained were 0.11 (mMP), 0.95 (mEP), 3.5 (mBP), 0.8 (mBzP), 9.5 (mEHP), and 101 (mNP). We also analysed seven samples of consumer milk and ten samples of infant formula. Only mBP and mEHP were detect…
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MiNP was the major metabolite found in breast milk collected from mothers in Denmark (101 μg/L) and Finland (89 μg/L).
“MiNP was the major metabolite found in breast milk collected from mothers in Denmark (101 µg/L) and Finland (89 µg/L) [25,159].”
From A Review of Biomonitoring of Phthalate Exposures (2019) · cites this paper as [159]
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A Review of Biomonitoring of Phthalate Exposures
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- Authors
- Mortensen, G. K., Main, K. M., Andersson, A.-M., Leffers, H., & Skakkebæk, N. E.
- Affiliations
- Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Mortensen, Gerda K.
- Venue
- Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
- Published
- 2005-06
- Volume
- 382
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1084-1092
- ISSN
- 1618-2642 (ISSN-L)
- 1618-2650
- OpenAlex
- W2050321497
- Cited by
- 180
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 7.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Velux Fonden
- European Commission
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Analytical chemistry methods development
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
- Keywords
- phthalate monoesters, breast milk, infant formula, monobenzyl phthalate, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate, phthalate exposure, solid-phase extraction, LC-MS/MS method validation, endocrine disruptors
- MeSH terms
- Chromatography, Liquid, Esters, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Milk, Human, Phthalic Acids, Reference Values, Sensitivity and Specificity, Time Factors, Infant Formula, Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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