Frederiksen Hanne, Skakkebaek Niels E, Andersson Anna-Maria
Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jul;51(7):899-911. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200600243.
Phthalates are synthetic compounds widely used as plasticisers, solvents and additives in many consumer products. Several animal studies have shown that some phthalates possess endocrine disrupting effects. Some of the effects of phthalates seen in rats are due to testosterone lowering effects on the foetal testis and they are similar to those seen in humans with testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Therefore, exposure of the human foetus and infants to phthalates via maternal exposure is a matter of concern. The metabolic pathways of phthalate metabolites excreted in human urine are partly known for some phthalates, but our knowledge about metabolic distribution in the body and other biological fluids, including breast milk, is limited. Compared to urine, human breast milk contains relatively more of the hydrophobic phthalates, such as di-n-butyl phthalate and the longer-branched, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP); and their monoester metabolites. Urine, however, contains relatively more of the secondary metabolites of DEHP and DiNP, as well as the monoester phthalates of the more short-branched phthalates. This differential distribution is of special concern as, in particular, the hydrophobic phthalates and their metabolites are shown to have adverse effects following in utero and lactational exposures in animal studies.
邻苯二甲酸盐是一类合成化合物，在许多消费品中广泛用作增塑剂、溶剂和添加剂。多项动物研究表明，某些邻苯二甲酸盐具有内分泌干扰作用。在大鼠身上观察到的一些邻苯二甲酸盐的影响是由于其对胎儿睾丸的睾酮降低作用，且这些影响与人类睾丸发育不全综合征患者的情况相似。因此，人类胎儿和婴儿通过母体接触邻苯二甲酸盐的情况令人担忧。对于某些邻苯二甲酸盐，人体尿液中排出的邻苯二甲酸酯代谢物的代谢途径已部分为人所知，但我们对其在体内及包括母乳在内的其他生物体液中的代谢分布了解有限。与尿液相比，人乳中含有相对较多的疏水性邻苯二甲酸盐，如邻苯二甲酸二正丁酯以及支链更长的邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基己基）酯（DEHP）和邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯（DiNP）；以及它们的单酯代谢物。然而，尿液中含有相对较多的DEHP和DiNP的二级代谢物，以及短支链邻苯二甲酸盐的单酯邻苯二甲酸盐。这种差异分布尤其令人担忧，因为在动物研究中，特别是疏水性邻苯二甲酸盐及其代谢物在子宫内和哺乳期暴露后显示出有不良影响。
