Phthalates
Diagnostics and Chemical Markers of Exposure
The Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch develops and performs unique laboratory tests to measure organic environmental chemicals in people. Examples of available laboratory tests are shown in the table above. It lists the most common names for these chemicals, and their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Numbers. Many of the chemicals, however, go by alternative names. Please visit the National Library of Medicine ChemID database websiteExternal
Laboratory Methods Panels
CDC’s laboratory methods are intended to evaluate population exposures and to support states in situations considered a public health concern. Please see the “Methods’ Access” tab in the tables found after clicking on each of the listed chemicals for additional information regarding these methods. Currently, CDC’s Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch does not have the capability of generating pilot or preliminary results in support of proposals to obtain public or private funds for a larger project.
Chemical | Specimen Type |
---|---|
Mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) terephthalate CAS No. 40321-99-1 |
urine |
Mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) terephthalate CAS No. 40809-41-4 |
urine |
Mono carboxyisononyl phthalate CAS No. 1373125-93-9 |
urine |
Mono-oxoisodecyl phthalate CAS No. N/A |
urine |
Mono carboxyisooctyl phthalate CAS No. N/A |
urine |
Mono-oxoisononyl phthalate CAS No. N/A |
urine |
Mono-isononyl phthalate CAS No. 297182-83-3 |
urine |
Mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate CAS No. 40321-98-0 |
urine |
Mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate CAS No. 40321-99-1 |
urine |
Mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate CAS No. 40321-98-0 |
urine |
Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate CAS No. 4376-20-9 |
urine |
Mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate CAS No. 66851-46-5 |
urine |
Mono-isobutyl phthalate CAS No. 30833-53-5 |
urine |
Mono-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl phthalate CAS No. 64339-39-5 |
urine |
Mono-n-butyl phthalate CAS No. 131-70-4 |
urine |
Mono-3-hydroxybutyl phthalate CAS No. 57074-43-8 |
urine |
Monobenzyl phthalate CAS No. 863029-89-4 |
urine |
Monoethyl phthalate CAS No. 863029-89-4 |
urine |
Laboratory Method: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_13_14/PHTHTE_H_MET_Phthalates.pdfCdc-pdf
Concentrations of phthalates and DINCH metabolites in pooled urine from Queensland Australia
Gomez Ramos MJ, Heffernan AL, Toms LM, Calafat AM, Ye X, Hobson P, Broomhall S, Mueller JF Environ Int. Environ Int. 2016 Mar;88:179-86. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.12.016.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412015301215External
Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Childhood Body Size in an Urban Cohort
Maresca MM, Hoepner LA, Hassoun A, Oberfield SE, Mooney SJ, Calafat AM, Ramirez J, Freyer G, Perera FP, Whyatt RM, Rundle AG. Environ Health Perspect. 2016 Apr;124(4):514-20. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1408750.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4829975/pdf/ehp.1408750.pdfCdc-pdf
Gestational exposure to phthalates and gender-related play behaviors in 8-year-old children: an observational study
Percy Z, Xu Y, Sucharew H, Khoury JC, Calafat AM, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A, Yolton K. . Environ Health. 2016 Aug 16;15(1):87. doi: 10.1186/s12940-016-0171-7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4986248/pdf/12940_2016_Article_171.pdfCdc-pdf
Exposure to select phthalates and phenols through use of personal care products among Californian adults and their children
Philippat C, Bennett D, Calafat AM, Picciotto IH. Environ Res. 2015 Apr 27;140:369-376
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4724203/pdf/nihms722609.pdfCdc-pdf
Development of urine standard reference materials for metabolites of organic chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, phenols, parabens, and volatile organic compounds
Schantz MM, Benner BA Jr, Heckert NA, Sander LC, Sharpless KE, Vander Pol SS, Vasquez Y, Villegas M, Wise SA, Alwis KU, Blount BC, Calafat AM, Li Z, Silva MJ, Ye X, Gaudreau É, Patterson DG Jr, Sjödin A. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2015 Apr;407(11):2945-54.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5137188/pdf/nihms832670.pdfCdc-pdf
Persistent Associations between Maternal Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates on Child IQ at Age 7 Years
Factor-Litvak P, Insel B, Calafat AM, Liu X, Perera F, Rauh VA, Whyatt RM PLoS One. 2014 Dec 10;9(12):e114003. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114003. eCollection 2014.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4262205/pdf/pone.0114003.pdfCdc-pdf
Exploring the potential association between brominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated compounds, phthalates, and bisphenol a in polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study
Vagi SJ, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Dumesic D, Gonzalez L, Kato K, Silva MJ, Ye X, Azziz R. BMC Endocr Disord. 2014 Oct 28;14(1):86. [Epub ahead of print]
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4287339/pdf/12902_2014_Article_298.pdfCdc-pdf
Biomonitoring Factsheet: Phthalates
National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
CDC’s laboratory methods are intended to evaluate population exposures and to support states in situations considered a public health concern. CDC does not provide individual health care or assessment unless as part of a broader public health investigation requested by federal or state agencies, such as a health department. Currently, CDC’s Organic Analytical Toxicology Branch does not have the capability of generating pilot or preliminary results in support of proposals to obtain public or private funds for a larger project.
Detecting levels of an environmental chemical in a person’s blood or urine does not necessarily mean the chemical will cause adverse health effects or disease. Advances in analytical methods enable CDC to measure very low levels of environmental chemicals in people, but research studies of varying levels of exposure are needed to determine if specific levels cause health effects. Consulting a clinician with a toxicological background to assist with the interpretation of results is recommended.
Samples to be tested should be processed through a state health department laboratory, and should conform to the laboratory’s reporting procedures. These laboratory methods often require that the sample be collected by a particular method, or sometimes with particular pre-screened collection devices, to minimize external contamination. Following the correct sample collection protocol is necessary for accurate sample measurement. Please contact the laboratory that will be analyzing the sample to learn the sample collection instructions before collecting the samples.
Contact DLSLab@cdc.gov for more information or questions about these laboratory methods.
>