| Urinary Levels of Seven Phthalate Metabolites in the U.S. Population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 Manori J. Silva, Dana B. Barr, John A. Reidy, Nicole A. Malek, Carolyn C. Hodge, Samuel P. Caudill, John W. Brock, Larry L. Needham, and Antonia M. Calafat Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Abstract
We measured the urinary monoester metabolites of seven commonly used phthalates in approximately 2,540 samples collected from participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) , 1999-2000, who were  6 years of age. We found detectable levels of metabolites monoethyl phthalate (MEP) , monobutyl phthalate (MBP) , monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) , and mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in > 75% of the samples, suggesting widespread exposure in the United States to diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate or diisobutylphthalate, benzylbutyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, respectively. We infrequently detected monoisononyl phthalate, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate, and mono-n-octyl phthalate, suggesting that human exposures to di-isononyl phthalate, dioctylphthalate, and dicyclohexyl phthalate, respectively, are lower than those listed above, or the pathways, routes of exposure, or pharmacokinetic factors such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination are different. Non-Hispanic blacks had significantly higher concentrations of MEP than did Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Compared with adolescents and adults, children had significantly higher levels of MBP, MBzP, and MEHP but had significantly lower concentrations of MEP. Females had significantly higher concentrations of MEP and MBzP than did males, but similar MEHP levels. Of particular interest, females of all ages had significantly higher concentrations of the reproductive toxicant MBP than did males of all ages ; however, women of reproductive age (i.e., 20-39 years of age) had concentrations similar to adolescent girls and women 40 years of age. These population data on exposure to phthalates will serve an important role in public health by helping to set research priorities and by establishing a nationally representative baseline of exposure with which population levels can be compared. Key words: mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, monobenzyl phthalate, monobutyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate, NHANES, phthalate exposure. Environ Health Perspect 112:331-338 (2004) . doi:10.1289/ehp.6723 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 1 December 2003]
Address correspondence to A.M. Calafat, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop F17, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. Telephone: (770) 488-7891. Fax: (770) 488-4609. E-mail: Acalafat@cdc.gov We acknowledge K. Kato and A.L. Stock for their assistance in sample preparation and A. Herbert for her assistance in manuscript preparation. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 3 September 2003 ; accepted 1 December 2003. Tables 2-4 were corrected on 10 March 2004.
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