US EPA

2215406 

Journal Article 

Skin permeation and metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) 

Hopf, NB; Berthet, A; Vernez, D; Langard, E; Spring, P; Gaudin, R 

2014 

1 

Toxicology Letters
ISSN: 0378-4274
EISSN: 1879-3169 

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD 

CLARE 

224 

1 

47-53 

English 

24140552 

10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.10.004 

WOS:000327887100007 

https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/skin-permeation-metabolism-di-2-ethylhexyl/docview/1466373261/se-2?accountid=171501
Exit
 

Phthalates are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is assumed to have low dermal absorption; however, previous in vitro skin permeation studies have shown large permeation differences. Our aims were to determine DEHP permeation parameters and assess extent of skin DEHP metabolism among workers highly exposed to these lipophilic, low volatile substances. Surgically removed skin from patients undergoing abdominoplasty was immediately dermatomed (800μm) and mounted on flow-through diffusion cells (1.77cm(2)) operating at 32°C with cell culture media (aqueous solution) as the reservoir liquid. The cells were dosed either with neat DEHP or emulsified in aqueous solution (166μg/ml). Samples were analysed by HPLC-MS/MS. DEHP permeated human viable skin only as the metabolite MEHP (100%) after 8h of exposure. Human skin was able to further oxidize MEHP to 5-oxo-MEHP. Neat DEHP applied to the skin hardly permeated skin while the aqueous solution readily permeated skin measured in both cases as concentration of MEHP in the receptor liquid. DEHP pass through human skin, detected as MEHP only when emulsified in aqueous solution, and to a far lesser degree when applied neat to the skin. Using results from older in vitro skin permeation studies with non-viable skin may underestimate skin exposures. Our results are in overall agreement with newer phthalate skin permeation studies. 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; DEHP; 117-81-7; Human; Skin; Percutaneous permeation