The Pilot Study of Phthalates and Monoesters in Human Chorion Tissues

Abstract

Phthalates are widely used in industry as solvents, additives and plasticizers. Some phthalates and their monoester metabolites are known to cause carcinogenic, toxic or endocrine-modulating effects. Chorion tissues as human early embryo are the base of organogenesis. Embryo (3-8 weeks) is sensitive period of teratogensis. With the development of industrialization, in addition to genetic factors, environmental factors become an important reason for human reproductive system defect, particularly under the interaction of the environmental factors and genetic factors. Recently we have studied human chorion tissues to see whether the phthalates especially their monoester metabolites are exist in. In the result five phthalates and monoester metabolites such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), monobutyl phthalate(MBP) and mono(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate(MEHP) are discovered, that means that phthalates and their monoesters both can pass through embryo and affect fetus before birth.