Estimated daily intake and cumulative risk assessment of phthalate diesters in a Belgian general population

- Phthalate daily intakes were estimated for 261 Belgian participants.
- Cumulative risk assessment was performed for 4 phthalates in a Belgian population.
- 13 children out of the 52 were exceeding hazard index of 1.
- The dietary intake seemed to be the major route for DEHP exposure.

The daily intakes (DI) were estimated in a Belgian general population for 5 phthalates, namely diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), based on the urinary measurements of their corresponding metabolites. DI values ranged between