Health hazard assessment of occupationally di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate-exposed workers in China

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a potential hazard to human health. The effects of occupational high level DEHP exposure on human health were evaluated by measuring the plasma cholinesterase, residues, renal and hepatic biochemical markers. The study was conducted in three representative polyvinyl chloride manufacturing facilities from large size (S1), medium side (S2) to small size (S3). Total 456 adult males including 352 exposed workers (occupational) and 104 control workers (background) were selected. The average DEHP concentrations in respirable particulate matter were 233, 291, and 707 μg m−3 for S1-S3, respectively, compared with 0.26 μg m−3 in the background atmosphere (labeled by S4). The results showed significant decreases in post exposure plasma cholinesterase (PChE) levels (<30%) from the exposed workers as compared to baseline. These exposed workers had been evaluated for plasma DEHP residues. Regression analyses explored that PChE decreased significantly with increasing plasma DEHP residues. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, urea, gamma glutamyltransferase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant and C-reactive protein were significantly raised as compared to the controls. Of the 352 exposed workers, 116 (33.0%) had a daily DEHP intake 22.7 μg kg bw−1 d−1 , which is more than 20 μg kg bw−1 d−1 specified by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The study demonstrated that occupational phthalate exposure produces health hazards.