Autoradiographic study of orally administered di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in the mouse.

Groups of three male mice were given single oral doses of d-(2-ethylhexyl) [14C]phthalate (5 micro Ci; 6.72 mg/animal) and examined by whole-body autoradiography at intervals from 1 hr to 7 days after treatment. The radioactivity was excreted in the urine and faeces mainly in the first 24 hr and completely within 3-5 days. Although, following absorption, radioactivity was widely distributed, none was found in the central nervous system, skeleton or thymus, and activity was detected only rarely in the testes. There was no evidence of tissue storage.