Effects of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on chromosomes of human leukocytes and human fetal lung cells.

Blood from two male and two female donors was exposed at 37degrees for 4 hr to concentrations of 60.0, 6.0, 0.6, and 0.06 mug of a widely used plasticizer, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, per milliliter of blood. The bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was solubilized with polysorbate 80. Appropriate polysorbate and nonpolysorbate controls also were established. Following the 4 hr of incubation, phytohemagglutinin was added and tissue cultures were established. In addition, human fetal lung cells were exposed in tissue culture to a medium containing 6.0 mug/ml of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in polysorbate 80 for 5 days. Similar controls also were established for these experiments. Analysis of chromosome preparations from all cultures obtained failed to show any increased evidence of isochromatid and chromatid breaks or gaps or abnormal forms at any studied concentration when compared to the control cultures. In addition, analysis of fetal lung cell preparations for aneuploidy failed to reveal any differences between cells from study and control cultures. This study involved a short-term exposure to bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in various concentrations which did not cause damage in leukocytes or fetal lung cells.