Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Metabolites May Alter Thyroid Hormone Levels in Men

Details

• Personal Author:
  Calafat, Antonia M. ; Hauser R ; Meeker JD
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Phthalates are used extensively in many personal-care and consumer products, resulting in widespread nonoccupational human exposure through multiple routes and media. A limited number of animal studies suggest that exposure to phthalates may be associated with altered thyroid function, but human data are lacking. METHODS: Concurrent samples of urine and blood were collected from 408 men. We measured urinary concentrations of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the hydrolytic metabolite of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and other phthalate monoester metabolites, along with serum levels of free thyroxine (T(4)), total triiodothyronine (T(3)), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Oxidative metabolites of DEHP were measured in urine from only 208 of the men. RESULTS: We found an inverse association between MEHP urinary concentrations and free T(4) and T(3) serum levels, although the relationships did not appear to be linear when MEHP concentrations were categorized by quintiles. There was evidence of a plateau at the fourth quintile, which was associated with a 0.11 ng/dL decrease in free T(4) [95% confidence interval (CI), -0.18 to -0.03] and a 0.05 ng/mL decrease in T(3) (95% CI, -0.10 to 0.01) compared with the first (lowest) MEHP quintile. The inverse relationship between MEHP and free T(4) remained when we adjusted for oxidative metabolite concentrations; this simultaneously demonstrated a suggestive positive association with free T(4). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary MEHP concentrations may be associated with altered free T(4) and/or total T(3) levels in adult men, but additional study is needed to confirm the observed findings. Future studies must also consider oxidative DEHP metabolites relative to MEHP as a potential marker of metabolic susceptibility to DEHP exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Blood Endocrine System Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Laboratories Men Occupational Health Phthalic Acids Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Urine

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Biomarkers Endocrine Disruption Endocrine System Disorders Exposure Levels Hormone Hormones Humans Laboratory Animals Metabolites Phthalates Risk Factors Sampling Statistical Analysis Thyroid Thyroid Gland Disorders Urinary Metabolites

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• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Massachusetts ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  115
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057902
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2007 Jul; 115(7):1029-1034
• Contact Point Address:
  J. Meeker, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 6635 SPH Tower, 109 S. Observatory St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
• Email:
  meekerj@umich.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Dioctyl phthalate (CAS RN 117-81-7) ; Mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (CAS RN 4376-20-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bc7065e09788b45c3abe51e0e60da3526799b14a63f9b8ae0b5f937a1bc39e6b5069c044aa39181070023c6ff53b65c72df030079999c912d08cd7aefe0df533
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215106/cdc_215106_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 133.15 KB ]