Toxic effect of systemic administration of low doses of the plasticizer di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate [DEHP] in rats.

DEHP [di-(2 ethyl hexyl) phthalate], a widely used plasticizer in blood storage bags, leaches out in appreciable amounts into blood (about 10 mg/100 ml) resulting in exposure of recipients of blood transfusion to this compound. Various reports indicate the toxicity of DEHP, particularly in liver and reproductive organs but all these studies used large doses (up to 2 g or more/Kg body weight) and oral route of administration which are not relevant to the intravenous administration during blood transfusion or the low amounts present in blood. We have studied changes in the activity of some important enzymes-gamma-GT, ALT, CPK, LDH, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and few other parameters like vitamin E, glutathione, serum albumin etc in rats administered low doses of DEHP (corresponding to transfusion of 2, 4, 6 and 10 units of blood). Histopathology of the organs has also been carried out. The results obtained indicate no serious toxic effects for DEHP at the level present in blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags as evidenced by the lack of any significant alteration in most of the biochemical parameters studied. Even in those cases where there was alteration (for e.g., decrease in the level of vitamin E) 24 hr after administration of DEHP, it returned to near normal level with in 72 hr to 7 days. No histopathological changes were observed in any of the organs at these levels of DEHP. It is concluded that DEHP did not cause any serious toxic effect even at doses corresponding to transfusion of several units of blood in a recipient.