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Kinetics of orally administered di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolite, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, in male pigs

  • Toxicokinetics and Metabolism
  • Published:
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Abstract

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used as a plastic softener in the polymer industry and is widespread in medical devices. DEHP has been incriminated as an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and the effects of DEHP in various species have included disturbances in the reproductive system. The effects of the chemical have varied, depending upon exposure routes and species. This study was performed in order to characterise the kinetics of DEHP and its metabolite mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in the young male pig, an omnivore model-species for research in reproductive toxicology. Eight pigs were given 1000 mg DEHP/kg bodyweight by oral gavage. The concentrations of DEHP and MEHP were then measured in the plasma and tissues of the pigs at different time points after administration. There was no consistent rise above contamination levels of concentrations of DEHP in the plasma of the pigs. However, the metabolite MEHP reached the systemic blood circulation. The half-life of MEHP in the systemic blood circulation was calculated to be 6.3 h. Absorption from the intestine was biphasic in six of the eight pigs and the mono-exponential elimination-phase started 16 h after the after the administration of DEHP. To conclude, MEHP consistently reaches the systemic circulation in the pig when DEHP is administered orally. The kinetic pattern of the parent substance on the other hand is more difficult to characterise.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by the ReproSafe-program of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The European Council of Plasticizers and Intermediates is acknowledged for financial support for performing the DEHP and MEHP analyses. The Ethical Committee on Animal Experiments, Uppsala, Sweden, approved all the procedures described as prescribed by national legislation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Box 7039, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Karl Ljungvall & Ulf Magnusson

  2. Research Institute for Chromatography, Pres. Kennedypark 20, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Bart Tienpont & Frank David

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Division of Pathology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Karolina Törneke

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  1. Karl Ljungvall
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  2. Bart Tienpont
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  3. Frank David
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  4. Ulf Magnusson
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  5. Karolina Törneke
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Correspondence to Karl Ljungvall.

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Ljungvall, K., Tienpont, B., David, F. et al. Kinetics of orally administered di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolite, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, in male pigs. Arch Toxicol 78, 384–389 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-004-0558-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-004-0558-z

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