Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lifetime cancer risk assessment for inhalation exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is ubiquitous in the environment and considered as carcinogen; however, the carcinogenic risk of human exposure to DEHP in the air via inhalation is lacking. A probabilistic incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model was implemented to quantitatively estimate the potential cancer risk of DEHP via human inhalation by using Monte Carlo simulation. We assessed the cancer risk in different age groups (children, adolescents, and adults) exposed to different DEHP concentrations (background low, indoor moderate, and occupational high) for different durations (2, 8, and 20 years). Results showed that the cancer risk of exposure to DEHP was below the acceptable limit (10−6) in the ambient air but was serious in indoor and occupational environments even at short exposure duration (2 years). The cancer risk of DEHP via inhalation in children was lower than that in adolescents and adults, but the risk in children via dermal and oral exposure to indoor dust and soft PVC toys should be considered. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the exposure concentration of DEHP was the strongest factor that influenced ILCR. Our work provides the evidence of cancer risk of DEHP via inhalation and highlights the risk in indoor and occupational environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adibi JJ, Perera FP, Jedrychowski W, Camann DE, Barr D, Jacek R et al (2003) Prenatal exposures to phthalates among women in New York City and Krakow, Poland. Environ Health Perspect 111:1719–1722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett JR (2006) Health on the factory floor: occupational phthalate exposure reduces testosterone. Environ Health Perspect 114:A660

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker K, Seiwert M, Angerer J, Heger W, Koch HM, Nagorka R et al (2004) DEHP metabolites in urine of children and DEHP in house dust. Int J Hyg Environ Health 207:409–417

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bornehag CG, Sundell J, Weschler CJ, Sigsgaard T, Lundgren B, Hasselgren M, Hägerhed-Engman L (2004) The association between asthma and allergic symptoms in children and phthalates in house dust: a nested case-control study. Environ Health Perspect 112:1393–1397

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bu Z, Zhang Y, Mmereki D, Yu W, Li B (2016) Indoor phthalate concentration in residential apartments in Chongqing, China: implications for preschool children’s exposure and risk assessment. Atmos Environ 127:34–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell JC (2012) DEHP: Genotoxicity and potential carcinogenic mechanisms—a review. Mutat Res 751:82–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen SC, Liao CM (2006) Health risk assessment on human exposed to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution sources. Sci Total Environ 366:112–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiang KC, Chio CP, Chiang YH, Liao CM (2009) Assessing hazardous risks of human exposure to temple airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. J Hazard Mater 166:676–685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clausen PA, Hansen V, Gunnarsen L, Afshari A, Wolkoff P (2004) Emission of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate from PVC flooring into air and uptake in dust: emission and sorption experiments in FLEC and CLIMPAQ. Environ Sci Technol 38:2531–2537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dematteo R, Keith MM, Brophy JT, Wordsworth A, Watterson AE, Beck M et al (2013) Chemical exposures of women workers in the plastics industry with particular reference to breast cancer and reproductive hazards. New Solut 22:427–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fong J-P, Lee F-J, Lu I-S, Uang S-N, Lee C-C (2014) Estimating the contribution of inhalation exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) for PVC production workers, using personal air sampling and urinary metabolite monitoring. Int J Hyg Environ Health 217:102–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fromme H, Lahrz T, Piloty M, Gebhart H, Oddoy A, Rüden H (2004) Occurrence of phthalates and musk fragrances in indoor air and dust from apartments and kindergartens in Berlin (Germany). Indoor Air 14:188–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujii M, Shinohara N, Lim A, Otake T, Kumagai K, Yanagisawa Y (2003) A study on emission of phthalate esters from plastic materials using a passive flux sampler. Atmos Environ 37:5495–5504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaudin R, Marsan P, Ndaw S, Robert A, Ducos P (2011) Biological monitoring of exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in six French factories: a field study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84:523–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grosse Y, Baan R, Secretan-Lauby B, El Ghissassi F, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L et al (2011) Carcinogenicity of chemicals in industrial and consumer products, food contaminants and flavourings, and water chlorination byproducts. Lancet Oncol 12:328–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Kannan K (2011) Comparative assessment of human exposure to phthalate esters from house dust in China and the United States. Environ Sci Technol 45:3788–3794

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardell L, Malmqvist N, Ohlson C-G, Westberg H, Eriksson M (2004) Testicular cancer and occupational exposure to polyvinyl chloride plastics: a case-control study. Int J Cancer 109:425–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heudorf U, Mersch-Sundermann V, Angerer J (2007) Phthalates: toxicology and exposure. Int J Hyg Environ Health 210:623–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang LP, Lee CC, Hsu PC, Shih TS (2011) The association between semen quality in workers and the concentration of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in polyvinyl chloride pellet plant air. Fertil Steril 96:90–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (2012) Some chemicals present in industrial and consumer products, food and drinking-water. Int Agency Res Cancer Lyon France 101:149–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaakkola JJ, Verkasalo PK, Jaakkola N (2000) Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children. Am J Public Health 90:797–799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ji Y, Wang F, Zhang L, Shan C, Bai Z, Sun Z et al (2014) A comprehensive assessment of human exposure to phthalates from environmental media and food in Tianjin, China. J Hazard Mater 279:133–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-Y (2016) Risk assessment of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in the workplace. Environ Health Toxicol 31:e2016011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolarik B, Naydenov K, Larsson M, Bornehag CG, Sundell J (2008) The association between phthalates in dust and allergic diseases among Bulgarian children. Environ Health Perspect 116:98–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latini G, Verrotti A, De Felice C (2004) Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and endocrine disruption: a review. Curr Drug Targets Immune Endocr Metabol Disord 4:37–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liss GM, Albro PW, Hartle RW, Stringer WT (1985) Urine phthalate determinations as an index of occupational exposure to phthalic anhydride and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Scand J Work Environ Health 11:381–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Carrillo L, Hernandez-Ramirez RU, Calafat AM, Torres-Sanchez L, Galvan-Portillo M, Needham LL et al (2010) Exposure to phthalates and breast cancer risk in northern Mexico. Environ Health Perspect 118:539–544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyche JL, Gutleb AC, Bergman A, Eriksen GS, Murk AJ, Ropstad E et al (2009) Reproductive and developmental toxicity of phthalates. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 12:225–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma J, Chen LL, Guo Y, Wu Q, Yang M, Wu MH, Kannan K (2014) Phthalate diesters in airborne PM2.5 and PM10 in a suburban area of Shanghai: seasonal distribution and risk assessment. Sci Total Environ 497:467–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martino-Andrade AJ, Chahoud I (2010) Reproductive toxicity of phthalate esters. Mol Nutr Food Res 54:148–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohlson C-G, Hardell L (2000) Testicular cancer and occupational exposures with a focus on xenoestrogens in polyvinyl chloride plastics. Chemosphere 40:1277–1282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otake T, Yoshinaga J, Yanagisawa Y (2004) Exposure to phthalate esters from indoor environment. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 14:524–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pei XQ, Song M, Guo M, Mo FF, Shen XY (2013) Concentration and risk assessment of phthalates present in indoor air from newly decorated apartments. Atmos Environ 68:17–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pilka T, Petrovicova I, Kolena B, Zatko T, Trnovec T (2015) Relationship between variation of seasonal temperature and extent of occupational exposure to phthalates. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:434–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudel RA, Camann DE, Spengler JD, Korn LR, Brody JG (2003) Phthalates, alkylophenols, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and other endocrine-disturbing compounds in indoor air and dust. Environ Sci Technol 37:4543–4553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudel RA, Dodson RE, Perovich LJ, Morello-Frosch R, Camann DE, Zuniga MM et al (2010) Semivolatile endocrine-disrupting compounds in paired indoor and outdoor air in two northern California communities. Environ Sci Technol 44:6583–6590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rusyn I, Corton JC (2012) Mechanistic considerations for human relevance of cancer hazard of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Mutat Res 750:141–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi W, Hu X, Zhang F, Hu G, Hao Y, Zhang X et al (2012) Occurrence of thyroid hormone activities in drinking water from eastern China: contributions of phthalate esters. Environ Sci Technol 46:1811–1818

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teil MJ, Blanchard M, Chevreuil M (2006) Atmospheric fate of phthalate esters in an urban area (Paris-France). Sci Total Environ 354:212–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1997) Integrated risk information system (IRIS) toxicological review of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). U.S. Environmental protection agency

  • Wang X, Tao W, Xu Y, Feng J, Wang F (2014) Indoor phthalate concentration and exposure in residential and office buildings in Xi’an, China. Atmos Environ 87:146–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Xu X, Fan CQ (2015) Health hazard assessment of occupationally di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate-exposed workers in China. Chemosphere 120:37–44

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weschler CJ, Nazaroff WW (2008) Semivolatile organic compounds in indoor environments. Atmos Environ 42:9018–9040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weschler CJ, Nazaroff WW (2012) SVOC exposure indoors: fresh look at dermal pathways. Indoor Air 22:356–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson CF, Lamb JC (1999) The potential health effects of phthalate esters in children’s toys: a review and risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 30:140–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wittassek M, Heger W, Koch HM, Becker K, Angerer J, Kolossa-Gehring M (2007) Daily intake of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by German children—a comparison of two estimation models based on urinary DEHP metabolite levels. Int J Hyg Environ Health 210:35–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Wang F, Ji Y, Jiao J, Zou D, Liu L et al (2014) Phthalate esters (PAEs) in indoor PM10/PM2.5, and human exposure to PAEs via inhalation of indoor air in Tianjin, China. Atmos Environ 85:139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zolfaghari M, Drogui P, Seyhi B, Brar SK, Buelna G, Dubé R (2014) Occurrence, fate and effects of Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in wastewater treatment plants: a review. Environ Pollut 194:281–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51576214).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China

    Yufeng Miao, Runhuai Wang, Chan Lu, Jinping Zhao & Qihong Deng

  2. XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    Qihong Deng

  3. Institute of Environmental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    Qihong Deng

Authors
  1. Yufeng Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Runhuai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chan Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jinping Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qihong Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qihong Deng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miao, Y., Wang, R., Lu, C. et al. Lifetime cancer risk assessment for inhalation exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 312–320 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7797-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7797-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation