Concentrations of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in Mexican Women with and without Diabetes

ISEE-0236 Background and Objective: Positive associations between phthalate metabolites and abdominal obesity as well as insulin resistance in adult US males are documented. Phthalates are ubiquitous chemicals in the environment and are associated with endocrine disorders. We explored the associations between urine concentrations of phthalate metabolites in Mexican women with and without self-reported diabetes mellitus (DM) history. Methods: Subjects were 221 women that participated as controls in an ongoing population-base case-control study in northern Mexico. All women were directly interviewed about their reproductive, dietary and clinical history. Anthropometric measures (waist and hip circumference, weight and height) were performed by standardized personnel. The following phthalate metabolites were determined by HPLC-MS/MS at the CDC: monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate (MEHHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (MECCP) and, mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP). Results: Higher mean concentrations of MEHHP (62.25 vs. 42.22 mcg/g creatinine) and MEOHP (41.40 vs. 31.86 mcg/g creatinine) were detected in women with DM history (n = 39) compared to women without DM history (n = 182). Discussion: MEHHP and MEOHP are metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, a major PVC plasticizer. Our results are in agreement with a recent report suggesting a metabolic impairment associated with exposure to some phthalates. “The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”