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Cited by 97Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactPesticide Exposure and Toxicity

Evaluation of exposure to phthalate esters and DINCH in urine and nails from a Norwegian study population

Giovanoulis, Georgios, Alves, Andreia, Papadopoulou, Eleni, Cousins, Anna Palm, Schütze, André, Koch, Holger M., Haug, Line S., Covaci, Adrian +2 more·2016·Environmental Research
DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.025
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Abstract

Phthalate esters (PEs) and 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) used as additives in numerous consumer products are continuously released into the environment, leading to subsequent human exposure which might cause adverse health effects. The human biomonitoring approach allows the detection of PEs and DINCH in specific populations, by taking into account all possible routes of exposure (e.g. inhalation, transdermal and oral) and all relevant sources (e.g. air, dust, personal care products, diet). We have investigated the presence of nine PE and two DINCH metabolites and their exposure determinants in 61 adult residents of the Oslo area (Norway). Three urine spots and fingernails were collected from each participant according to established sampling protocols. Metabolite analysis was performed by LC-MS/MS. Metabolite levels in urine were used to back-calculate the total exposure to their corresponding parent compound. The primary monoesters, such as monomethyl phthalate (MMP, geometric mean 89.7ng/g), monoethyl phthalate (MEP, 104.8ng/g) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP, 89.3ng/g) were observed in higher levels in nails, whereas the secondary bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and DINCH oxidative metabolites were more abundant in urine (detection frequency 84-100%). The estimated daily intakes of PEs and DINCH for this Norwegian population did not exceed the established tolerable daily intake and reference doses, and the cumulative risk assessment for combined exposure to plasticizers with similar toxic endpoints indicated no health concerns for the selected population. We found a moderate positive correlation between MEP levels in 3 urine spots and nails (range: 0.56-0.68). Higher frequency of personal care products use was associated with greater MEP concentrations in both urine and nail samples. Increased age, smoking, wearing plastic gloves during house cleaning, consuming food with plastic packaging and eating with hands were associated with higher levels in urine and nails for some of the metabolites. In contrast, frequent hair and hand washing was associated with lower urinary levels of monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5-OH-MEHP), respectively.

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  • Nail samples from Oslo, Norway, showed the presence of monoesters, such as MMP (geometric mean 89.7 ng/g), MEP (104.8 ng/g), and MBP (89.3 ng/g).

    “Another study of nail samples from Oslo, Norway, showed the presence of monoesters, such as MMP (geometric mean 89.7 ng/g), MEP (104.8 ng/g), and MBP (89.3 ng/g) [112].”

    From A Review of Biomonitoring of Phthalate Exposures (2019) · cites this paper as [112]

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Authors
Giovanoulis, G., Alves, A., Papadopoulou, E., Cousins, A. P., Schütze, A., Koch, H. M., Haug, L. S., Covaci, A., Magnér, J., & Voorspoels, S.
Affiliations
  • Stockholm University (SE)
  • University of Antwerp (BE)
  • Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO)
  • IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (SE)
  • Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine (DE)
  • Flemish Institute for Technological Research (BE)
Corresponding author
  • Giovanoulis, Georgios
  • Magnér, Jörgen
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
151
Pages
80-90
ISSN
0013-9351 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.025
OpenAlex
W2501983258
Cited by
97
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 1
FWCI
7.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Environmental Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Seventh Framework Programme (316665)
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
phthalates, DINCH, plasticizers, human exposure assessment, urinary phthalate metabolites, monomethyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate, DEHP, personal care products, exposure determinants, cumulative risk assessment, tolerable daily intake, hand washing, smoking, food packaging
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids, Dicarboxylic Acids, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Esters, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nails, Norway, Phthalic Acids

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