Relationship between variation of seasonal temperature and extent of occupational exposure to phthalates

Spot urine samples were collected in summer and winter season to examine the association between temperature variation and phthalate concentration in an occupationally exposed group. We analysed samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to determine the concentrations of four phthalate metabolites: mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MnBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), and monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP). We observed significantly higher urinary concentrations of all monitored phthalate metabolites collected during the summer in occupationally exposed group (MEP p<0.0015, MiNP p<0.0001, MnBP p<0.00019, and MEHP p<0.05); however, in general, population was noticed this difference only for MEHP (p<0.05) in winter season. We conclude that increasing indoor and outdoor temperature is related to phthalate exposure in specific types of work environment.