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Quantification of phthalate and DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal breast milk : Assessing maternal body burden and infant exposure

Runkel, Agneta A LU orcid ; Rekar, Žan ; Kosirnik, Neja ; Mazej, Darja ; Horvat, Milena ; Snoj Tratnik, Janja and Kosjek, Tina (2026) In Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 309.
Abstract

Based on toxicological evidence, human exposure to phthalates (PHs) and diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) may contribute to adverse health effects, especially during vulnerable developmental stages. To support the exposure assessment for this group of endocrine disruptors, we developed and validated a method for the analysis of 14 PH and 3 DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal milk, applied the method in a pilot study, and identified crucial obstacles in the path of establishing maternal milk as a routine matrix in human biomonitoring. Urine and milk samples were extracted with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS salts, respectively, and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry... (More)

Based on toxicological evidence, human exposure to phthalates (PHs) and diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) may contribute to adverse health effects, especially during vulnerable developmental stages. To support the exposure assessment for this group of endocrine disruptors, we developed and validated a method for the analysis of 14 PH and 3 DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal milk, applied the method in a pilot study, and identified crucial obstacles in the path of establishing maternal milk as a routine matrix in human biomonitoring. Urine and milk samples were extracted with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS salts, respectively, and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method accuracy was confirmed for urine samples via a certified standard reference material and the G-EQUAS intercomparison programme. We identified a need for sampling protocols, reference materials, and external method verification schemes in order to establish maternal milk as a routine matrix. Finally, the method was tested for its applicability in a pilot biomonitoring study on 30 paired urine and milk samples from lactating mothers, with medians ranging from <LLOQ - 15 µg/L in urine and <LLOQ - 16 µg/L in maternal milk and generally higher detection rates in urine. Furthermore, the results indicate extensive monoester formation under cooled storage conditions, resulting in potentially high infantile exposure to phthalate monoesters for which, to date, no guidance values exist despite their demonstrated toxicity.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
volume
309
article number
119698
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:41520534
ISSN
0147-6513
DOI
10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119698
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier Inc.
id
31483936-dfff-4847-969d-f1fc816155bc
date added to LUP
2026-01-21 09:47:45
date last changed
2026-01-21 11:03:22
@article{31483936-dfff-4847-969d-f1fc816155bc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Based on toxicological evidence, human exposure to phthalates (PHs) and diisononylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) may contribute to adverse health effects, especially during vulnerable developmental stages. To support the exposure assessment for this group of endocrine disruptors, we developed and validated a method for the analysis of 14 PH and 3 DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal milk, applied the method in a pilot study, and identified crucial obstacles in the path of establishing maternal milk as a routine matrix in human biomonitoring. Urine and milk samples were extracted with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS salts, respectively, and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method accuracy was confirmed for urine samples via a certified standard reference material and the G-EQUAS intercomparison programme. We identified a need for sampling protocols, reference materials, and external method verification schemes in order to establish maternal milk as a routine matrix. Finally, the method was tested for its applicability in a pilot biomonitoring study on 30 paired urine and milk samples from lactating mothers, with medians ranging from &lt;LLOQ - 15 µg/L in urine and &lt;LLOQ - 16 µg/L in maternal milk and generally higher detection rates in urine. Furthermore, the results indicate extensive monoester formation under cooled storage conditions, resulting in potentially high infantile exposure to phthalate monoesters for which, to date, no guidance values exist despite their demonstrated toxicity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Runkel, Agneta A and Rekar, Žan and Kosirnik, Neja and Mazej, Darja and Horvat, Milena and Snoj Tratnik, Janja and Kosjek, Tina}},
  issn         = {{0147-6513}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  series       = {{Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety}},
  title        = {{Quantification of phthalate and DINCH metabolites in human urine and maternal breast milk : Assessing maternal body burden and infant exposure}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119698}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119698}},
  volume       = {{309}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}