• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2005

DEHP is one of well known endocrine disrupter and it is used as additives for the production of PVC. There has been contradictional result on the genotoxicity of DEHP. In order to examine genotoxicity of a endocrine disruptors, DEHP (Di-2-EthylHexyl Phthalate) and it's metabolites, EHA (2-EthylHexanoic Acid) and DEP (Di-2-Ethyl Phthalate), chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronuclei (MN) and single cell gel electrophoresis were analysised. No increase of the frequency of CA was observed by DEHP and its two metabolites. DEHPincreased the frequency of SCE and MN whereas EHA only increased the frequency of SCE. DEP increased the frequency of SCE but the increase was not statistically significant. DEHP and DEP, also induced DNA damage. It is suggested that combination of different methods were recomended to find the genotoxicity of DEHP and its metabolites.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.1_2
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 1989

Recently pathotoxicological study of lymphoid organs by administration of some phthalate ester in rats, indicated marked effect of architechure of thymus, spleen, and lymphonodes. Dioctyl phthalate (DOP), one of the phthalate ester, caused statistically significant reduction in the weights of various lymphoid organs. This senstivity of the lymphoid organ to phthalate toxicity which could lead to adverse effects on the immune response and also suppression of immune system. Therfore it is possible the presense of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the phthalate ester as well as DOP, in spleen and other organs might have some moderately effect on the function of the immune system, So our present study was proceeded to assess the effect of DEHP on the immunotoxicity in mouse. In the immune response of DEHP administered mice, HA, HY, Arthus reaction and Rosette forming cell were decreased but DTH was increased. Furthermore, in the DEHP plus ethanol group, HA, HY, Arthus reaction and Rosette forming cell were remarkably decreased and elevation of DTH was inhibited.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 2006

Phthalates such as di(2-ethyl hexyl)phthalate(DEHP) are industrial chemicals with wide-ranging human exposures because of their use in plastics and other common consumer products. Consequently, their adverse effects as endocrine disruptor in the reproductive physiology of both laboratory rodents and human have been studied extensively. The present study was undertaken to examine whether prepubertal exposure to DEHP affects on the onset of puberty and the associated reproductive parameters such as hormone receptor expressions in female rats. DEHP(100mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25(PND 25) through the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day. Gross anatomy and weight of reproductive tissues were compared to test the DEHP's effects on the cell proliferation. Furthermore, histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the tissues. Specific radioimmunoassay was carried out to measure serum LH levels. To determine the transcriptional changes in progesterone receptor(PR), total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). As a result, delayed VO was shown in the DEHP group(PND $37.3{\pm}0.7$) compared to the control group(PND $35.3{\pm}0.7$; p<0.05). DEHP treatment significantly decreased the wet weight of ovaries and uteri compared to the control group(p<0.05). Interestingly, elevation of serum LH levels was shown in the DEHP group(p<0.05). Graafian follicles and corpora lutea were observed only in the ovaries from the control animals. Numerous primary, secondary follicles and small atretic follicles were observed in the ovaries from DEHP-treated animals. Similarly, hypotrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelium was found in the DEHP-treated group. These effects were probably due to the inhibitory effects of DEHP on the synthesis and secretion of estrogen from granulosa cells. In the semiquantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activities of PR in both ovary(p<0.05) and uterus(p<0.01) from DEHP-treated animals were significantly lower than those from the control animals. The present studies demonstrated that the acute exposure to DEHP during the critical period of prepubertal stage could inactivate the reproductive system resulting delayed puberty in female rats.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.324-333
• /
• 2023

Background: Human exposure to phthalates in indoor environments occurs via dermal absorption, oral ingestion of indoor dust, and inhalation of indoor air. However, systematic studies to investigate the exposure rate to phthalates among the three exposure routes in indoor environments are currently limited. Objectives: A theoretical exposure ratio between inhalation and oral exposure was calculated based on the total amount of di(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) emitted into indoor air and deposited into floor dust in a test house. Methods: Flooring and wallpaper containing DEHP were installed in a test house and the concentration of DEHP in both indoor air and floor dust were monitored for five months. Based on the measured DEHP concentrations, the theoretical total amount ratio of DEHP that could be exposed through inhalation and oral ingestion was calculated. Results: Considering the period of operation in the test house, the theoretical total amount of DEHP through inhalation and oral ingestion exposures in the entire test house space was calculated to be 0.014 mg and 5.5 mg, respectively. The exposure ratio of the two routes between inhalation and oral exposure corresponding to the total DEHP amount in flooring and wallpaper was 6.0×10^-7% and 2.3×10^-4%, indicating that theoretical oral exposure to DEHP is approximately 380 times higher than inhalation. Conclusions: Monitoring results from a test house has shown that oral exposure is the main exposure route for DEHP in indoor environments. The experimental design employed in this study and theoretical exposure ratio obtained can be applied to investigate actual exposure to DEHP and to determine the exposure characteristics of various types of semi-volatile organic compounds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.357-361
• /
• 2005

The exposed strain of C. riparius treated with di (ethyl- hexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) did not result in a consistent relationship between mortality or sex ratio and chemical concentrations. And after treating with DEHP, the emergent female from the exposed strain appeared to be fatty with a large body volume comparing with the non - exposed strain. The emergent period (EP) was especially different between the exposed fourth strain and the non-exposed strain; generally the exposed strain was $7\~10$ days, and non - exposed strain was $17\~24$ days. Regarding sustainable exposed effects, the EP, the first emergent day (FED), and the body volume (BV) could be suggested as suitable bio - markers for detecting of exposure to various EDCs.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.169-188
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Although information on the toxicity of phthalate diesters is readily available, little is known about phthalate alternatives. The present article provides a summary of available information on the toxicity of phthalate diesters and their alternatives, with a special focus on estrogenicity and androgenicity. Methods: We collected a battery of in vitro and in vivo assay data from the literature to assess the estrogenicity/anti-estrogenicity and androgenicity/anti-androgenicity of 15 phthalate diesters and 21 phthalate alternatives. Results: A number of in vitro studies show that certain phthalate diesters can bind to estrogen receptors and have a weak estrogenic potential. However, this potential was not seen in in vivo studies. Phthalate diesters produced anti-androgenic effects in animals by reducing testosterone production. Among them, di-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most potent. While almost all phthalate alternatives have a lower toxic potential than does DEHP, evidence of reproductive toxicity and estrogenic potential were found in several substances. Conclusion: Significant data gaps exist for phthalate alternatives regarding reproductive endocrine disruption, requiring further investigation.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 2006

Although some phytoes rogens might have beneficiary rather than adverse effects, most endocrine disrupting compounds(EDCs) are considered to be harmful to human and wildlife health through interfering the endocrine system. Previously we found that prepubertal exposure to genistein(GS), a well-known isoflavone phytoestrogen, could activate the reproductive system of immature female rats resulting precocious puberty. Interestingly, di(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate(DEHP) exposure brought inverse result, a delayed puberty, in the same experimental regimen. In this study, we examined whether prepubertal exposure to GS or DEHP affect the gene expressions of estrogen receptors($ER\;{\alpha}$ and $ER\;{\beta}$) and LH receptor(LHR) which represent the maturational status of ovary and uterus in immature rats. GS (100 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 to the day when the first vaginal opening(VO) was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 32). Similarly, DEHP(l00 mg/kg/day) was administered daily from postnatal day 25 through the day when the first V.O. in control group was observed, and the animals were sacrificed on the next day(day 36). To determine the transcriptional changes in the hormone receptors, total RNAs were extracted from ovary and uterus and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). In the GS group, the transcriptional activities of $ER\;{\alpha}$, $ER\;{\beta}$ and LHR in uterus and LHR in ovary were significantly increased when compared to those of control group. In the DEHP group, the transcriptional activities of all the hormone receptors measured were significantly lowered when compared to those of control group. These alteration of the reproductive hormone receptor expressions in ovary and uterus might be represent the phenotypic aspects(secondary sexual characteristics) such as tissue weights and reproductive hormone levels during perinatal period in immature female rats.