US EPA

3070741 

Journal Article 

Migration of phthalates on culture plates - an important challenge to consider for in vitro studies 

Frohnert Hansen, J; Boas, M; Møller Brorson, M; Frederiksen, H; Hartoft-Nielsen, ML; Krogh Rasmussen, Å; Main, KM; Feldt-Rasmussen, U 

2016 

Yes 

Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
ISSN: 0036-5513
EISSN: 1502-7686 

Taylor and Francis Ltd 

ABINGDON 

76 

2 

1-7 

English 

26754760 

10.3109/00365513.2015.1110857 

WOS:000370543400010 

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84959497252&doi=10.3109%2f00365513.2015.1110857&partnerID=40&md5=8f81a0007b8c5dd35f8fb19384bf13aa
Exit
 

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors of the reproductive system and suspected to influence many other organ and hormone systems. They are also semi-volatile organic compounds present in the gas phase in the environment. Their mode of action has been investigated in numerous in vitro studies. Multi-well culture plates are typically used to study phthalates in cell cultures. In a pilot study, we observed evidence of phthalate migration in 24-well culture plates. As this has not previously been described, we investigated the phenomenon in more detail. Primary human thyroid epithelial cell cultures (n = 8 cultures) were exposed to either di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) or di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Measurement of phthalate metabolites by mass spectrometry demonstrated that the short-branched DEP was able to migrate to adjacent wells when added to cell culture plates. DnBP also seemed to be able to migrate, unlike the long-branched DEHP or the monoester MnBP which did not seem to have this ability. High background levels of phthalate metabolites were also observed, which might compromise results from low dose phthalate studies. In conclusion, the migration of phthalates which is probably caused by their volatile properties might lead to false interpretation of study results. 

tandem mass spectrometry; Primary cell cultures; dibutyl phthalate; volatilization; plasticizers; chromatography; diethylhexyl phthalate; diethyl phthalate