Assessment of Exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) Metabolites and Bisphenol A (BPA) and Its Importance for the Prevention of Cardiometabolic Diseases

Exposomics analyses have highlighted the importance of biomonitoring of human exposure to pollutants, even non-persistent, for the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) widely used in industry and in a large range of daily life products that increase the risk of endocrine and cardiometabolic diseases especially if the exposure starts during childhood. Thus, biomonitoring of exposure to these compounds is important not only in adulthood but also in childhood. This was the goal of the LIFE-PERSUADED project that measured the exposure to phthalates (DEHP metabolites, MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP) and BPA in Italian mother-children couples of different ages. In this paper we describe the method that was set up for the LIFE PERSUADED project and validated during the proficiency test (ICI/EQUAS) showing that accurate determination of urinary phthalates and BPA can be achieved starting from small sample size (0.5 mL) using two MS techniques applied in cascade on the same deconjugated matrix.

Automated summary

Exposomics analysis emphasizes the importance of biomonitoring human exposure to pollutants, especially for endocrine and cardiometabolic diseases associated with phthalates and BPA. Therefore, biomonitoring of exposure to these compounds is needed in both childhood and adulthood.