Metabolite Profiles of Di-n-butyl Phthalate in Humans and Rats
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is widely used in consumer products. In humans and in rats, DBP is metabolized to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP). MBP may also further oxidize to other metabolites of DBP. We studied the metabolic profiles of DBP in rats and humans to evaluate the similarities between the two species and between different exposure scenarios. In rats administered DBP by oral gavage, we identified MBP and three urinary oxidative metabolites of DBP: mono-3-oxo-n-butyl phthalate, mono-3-hydroxy-n-butyl phthalate (MHBP), and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP). MBP, MHBP, and MCPP were also present in serum, albeit at lower levels than in urine. Statistically significant correlations (p < 0.01) existed between the concentrations of MBP and the concentrations of MHBP (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.82 [urine] and r = 0.96 [serum]) and MCPP (r = 0.77 [urine] and r = 0.97 [serum]). However, the concentrations of these metabolites in urine collected 6 h after dosing and in serum 24 h after dosing were not correlated, suggesting continuous metabolism of DBP and/or individual differences among rats. Serum DBP metabolite concentrations increased with the dose, whereas urinary concentrations did not. We also identified MBP, MHBP, and MCPP in the urine of four men exposed to DBP bytaking a prescription medication containing DBP, and MBP and MCPP in 94 adults with no documented exposure to DBP. In the human samples, we observed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.…
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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 Silva et al., 2007
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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
- Silva, M. J., Samandar, E., Reidy, J. A., Hauser, R., Needham, L. L., & Calafat, A. M.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2007-10-04
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 7576-7580
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W1971820910
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 2.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacogenetics and Drug Metabolism
- Keywords
- dibutyl phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, phthalate metabolites, urinary metabolites, serum metabolites, biomarkers of exposure, human-rat comparison, mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate, dose-response relationship, occupational exposure
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Amniotic Fluid, Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Phthalic Acids, Pregnancy, Biomarkers, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats
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