Phthalate Exposure and Health-Related Outcomes in Specific Types of Work Environment

Branislav Kolena, Ida Petrovicova, Tomas Pilka, Zuzana Pucherova, Michal Munk, Bohumil Matula, Viera Vankova, Peter Petlus, Zita Jenisova, Zdenka Rozova, Sona Wimmerova and Tomas Trnovec
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Branislav Kolena: Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Ida Petrovicova: Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Tomas Pilka: Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Zuzana Pucherova: Department of Ecology and Environmentalistics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Michal Munk: Department of Informatics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Bohumil Matula: Specialized Hospital of St. Zoerardus Zobor, 949 88 Nitra, Slovakia
Viera Vankova: Department of Ecology and Environmentalistics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Peter Petlus: Department of Ecology and Environmentalistics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Zita Jenisova: Department of Chemistry, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Zdenka Rozova: Department of Ecology and Environmentalistics, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, 949 74 Nitra, Slovakia
Sona Wimmerova: Institute of Biophysics, Informatics and Biostatistics, Slovak Medical University, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia
Tomas Trnovec: Department of Environmental Medicine, Slovak Medical University, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Many toxic substances in the workplace can modify human health and quality of life and there is still insufficient data on respiratory outcomes in adults exposed to phthalates. The aim of this work was to assess in waste management workers from the Nitra region of Slovakia ( n = 30) the extent of exposure to phthalates and health-related outcomes. Four urinary phthalate metabolites mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MnBP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Urinary concentration of MEHP was positively associated with ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity % (FEV 1 /FVC) ( r = 0.431; p = 0.018) and MiNP with fat free mass index (FFMI) ( r = 0.439; p = 0.015). The strongest predictor of pulmonary function was the pack/year index as smoking history that predicted a decrease of pulmonary parameters, the FEV 1 /FVC, % of predicted values of peak expiratory flow (PEF % of PV) and FEV 1 % of PV. Unexpectedly, urinary MEHP and MINP were positively associated with pulmonary function expressed as PEF % of PV and FEV 1 /FVC. We hypothesize that occupational exposure to phthalates estimated from urinary metabolites (MEHP, MiNP) can modify pulmonary function on top of lifestyle factors.

Keywords: urinary phthalate metabolites; occupational exposure; pulmonary functions; anthropometry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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