• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.53.1-53.15
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• 2023

Background: Plastics are high-molecular-weight materials composed of long carbon chains. They are prevalent in daily life, present in various items such as food containers and microwavable packaging. Phthalates, an additive used to enhance their flexibility, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We utilized the data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 3, representing the general South Korean population, to investigate the relationship between the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage and phthalate exposure. Methods: We assessed 3,333 adult participants (aged ≥ 19 years) including 1,526 men and 1,807 women, using data from KoNEHS cycle 3. Using the 75th percentile concentration, urine phthalate metabolites were categorized into high and low-concentration groups. χ² test was conducted to analyze variations in the distribution of each variable, considering sociodemographic factors, health-related factors, food intake, the use of plastics, and the concentration of urine phthalate metabolites as the variables. To calculate odds ratios (ORs) for the high-concentration group of urine phthalate metabolites based on the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage, logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: In men, the use of plastics in refrigerator food storage had significantly higher adjusted ORs compared to those using the others. The adjusted ORs were calculated as follows: mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) had an OR of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.72), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) had an OR of 1.48 (95% CI: 1.16-1.88), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) had an OR of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.04-1.66), ∑di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (∑DEHP) had an OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.08-1.74) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had an OR of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.13-1.84). Conclusion: The concentrations of urine phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP, and MnBP) were significantly higher in men who used plastics in refrigerator food storage compared to those using the others.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.459-463
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• 2009

In this study, physical properties of poly(vinyl acetate-co-ethylene) (VAE) emulsion were investigated by adding different amounts of di-butyl phthalate (DBP) which is a common plasticizer of VAE. The glass transition temperature $(T_g)$ of the dried plasticized VAE emulsion film, which measured by Differential Scanning Calorimeter, was decreased with increasing the DBP contents while the viscosity of the plasticized VAE emulsion was increased with the DBP contents. These results suggest that the plasticizer in the dried VAE film can prevent the strong interaction between chains, resulted by the decrease of $T_g$. In the emulsion, however, the particle sizes were swelled by the penetration of plasticizers and then its viscosity increased with the DBP content. When the DBP was added, the mechanical properties of the plasticized VAE films, such as tensile strength, elongation and creep resistance, were decreased while the water resistance was increased.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1545-1551
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• 2021

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) such as capsular polysaccharide (CPS) are important bioactive carbohydrate compounds and are often used as bioenrichment agents and bioabsorbers to remove environmental pollutants like di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). Among the EPS-producing bacteria, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have gained the most attention. As generally recognized as safe (GRAS) microorganisms, LAB can produce EPSs having many different structures and no health risks. However, EPS production by LAB does not meet the needs of large-scale application on an industrial scale. Here, the capA gene (encoding CPS biosynthesis protein) was overexpressed in Lactobacillus plantarum P1 to improve the production of EPSs and further enhance the DBP adsorption capability. Compared with P1, the CPS production in capA overexpressed strain was increased by 11.3 mg/l, and the EPS thickness was increased from 0.0786 ± 0.0224 ㎛ in P1 to 0.1160 ± 0.0480 ㎛ in P1-capA. These increases caused the DBP adsorption ratio of P1-capA to be doubled. Overall, the findings in this study provide a safe method for the adsorption and removal of DBP.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2012

There are many industrial factories in the central Nakdong river basin and have been occurred water pollution accidents by hazardous chemicals such as phenol, 1,4-dioxane and perchlorate. In this study, ten compounds of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) (dichlorvos, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, 4,4'-methylenedianiline, 4,4'-methylenebis (2-chloroaniline), diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthaltate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate, benzophenone, 4,4'-bisphenol A) of hazardous chemicals which may be potentially discharged into the Nakdong river, were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with disk-type solid-phase extraction. Accuracy and precision were in the range of 75.6~110.5%, and 4.6~12.7%, respectively and recovery was in the range of 72.4~127.9%. Three compounds (bis (2-ethylhexyl)adipate, benzophenone, 4,4'-bisphenol A) were detected in industrial wastewater such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and wastewater discharge facilities in the Nakdong River basin.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.3311-3316
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• 2012

In this paper, a layered-carbon-$Fe_3O_4$ (LC-$Fe_3O_4$) hybrid material was synthesized through a facile one-pot solvothermal method and used as the adsorbent for the preconcentration of some phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate) in water samples. The effects of the adsorbent dosage, extraction time, the solution pH and salinity on the adsorption of the phthalate esters (PAEs) were investigated. The magnetic nanocomposite adsorbent could remove and enrich the PAEs from water samples efficiently. After the adsorption, the analytes were desorbed and then determined by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors of the method for the analytes were in the range from 161 to 180. A linear response with peak area as the quantification signal was observed in the concentration range from 0.5 to $100ng\;mL^{-1}$. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) of the method were between 0.08 and $0.1ng\;mL^{-1}$. The method was suitable for the determination of trace phthalate esters in environmental water samples.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the short term toxicity of nine phthalate diesters including di-2(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), diundecyl phthalate (DUP), and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and five phthalate monoesters including mono- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MBuP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBeP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and phthalic acid (PA) in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Animals were administered 250 mg/kg/day (monoesters and PA) or 500 mg/kg/day (diesters) of phthalate for two weeks. All animals were examined for body and organ weights, blood hematology, serum biochemistry, and urine analysis. The body weight gain was significantly lower in rats treated with BBP, DBP, DINP, MEHP, MBuP, and PA than that of control. Liver weights were significantly increased in the DEHP, DBP, DnOP, DIDP, and MEHP groups as compared to the control group. Testes weights were significantly decreased only in the DEHP-, DnOP-, and DIDP-treated groups as compared to the control. Significant differences in hematological changes were not observed in any treatment groups. Significant increases in blood glucose levels were observed in the DEHP, MEHP, and MBeP groups. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly increased in the DBP, DUP, DINP, MBuP, and MBeP groups, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly increased only in the DEHP and MEHP groups. Serum ALP levels were significantly higher in phthalate diester (500 mg/kg/day)-treated rats as compared to control. However, the total cholesterol level was significantly reduced in the DEHP- and DIDP-treated groups, whereas serum triglyceride (TG) levels were higher in the DINP-, MEHP-, and MBuP-treated groups. These results suggest that short term toxicity of phthalate monoesters produces adverse effects as similar to phthalate diesters in Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2020

Objectives: This study is to examine the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials in elementary school classrooms and libraries in Seoul, and to investigate phthalate contamination in indoor dust. Methods: PVC material was identified for building materials and furniture using portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Phthalates in dust samples (n=19) were extracted by ultrasonic extraction using cyclohexane and analyzed by GC-MS. Results: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in all collected dust samples (n=19), and diisonyl phthalate (DINP) was detected in all except for one sample (n=18). The concentration of DEHP (median: 2190 mg/kg) and DINP (2960 mg/kg) were higher than other compounds, suggesting that there are many products in the school that used these compounds. When comparing the phthalate concentration in the classroom (n=11) and library dust (n=8), the total concentration in the classroom (median: 10000 mg/kg) was higher than that in the library (8030 mg/kg). DEHP was the dominant compound in the library. The library is relatively more equipped with PVC furniture (n=83) and most floors are also identified as PVC material, suggesting that floors and furniture made of PVC materials are main sources of DEHP contamination. Conclusions: This study is a pilot survey for investigating phthalate contamination in elementary schools. As a result of the survey, phthalate contamination in elementary school was confirmed. However, further study requires risk assessment of children through analysis of phthalate metabolites in children based on sufficient number of samples and information about the site.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2012

This study was performed to survey the school supplies such as pencil, eraser, notebook and color paper. Twenty-two kinds of samples were collected near the school zone, and eight kinds of phthalate which is one of the environmental hazard factors analyzed to estimate the contents characteristics of products. As the results of these research, three kinds of phthalates (BBP, DNOP and DIDP) were not detected in the selected samples. In the A group, DEHP and DINP were detected in the rage of 22%~28%, and DINP was selected 28%, 24% and 28% in the A-1, A-3 and A-4 samples, respectively. But the selected samples in the B group were detected less than 1,000 ppm as regulated level. Also, The DBP was detected 1% in the C-2 sample, and DEHP was detected 0.3% in the C-1 and C-6 samples. The DEHA was detected 0.3% in the D-3 sample. In this study, the DINP was mainly detected the eraser, therefore this kind of phthalate can be exposed through dermal exposure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.127-131
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• 2002

Migration of di-(ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHF) from PVC food packaging materials detected plasticizer into food simulanting solvents(4% Acetic acid, 8% Ethanol, 50% Ethanol, 95% Ethanol, Heptane) were studied. For executing this study ,2 PVC food packaging materials detected DEHP were used. Analysis was by GC-FID and GC-MSD(selected ion monitoring) for DEHP, and optimized for quantification of plasticizer. The recovery of DEHP into food simulanting solvents were min. 87.4${\pm}$ 3.6 ∼ max. 109.9 ${\pm}$ 10.7% respectively. Following exposure to food simulants 95% Ethanol for 24hours at 60$^{\circ}C$ the migration results of 1020.90 ${\pm}$ 10.15$\mu\textrm{g}$/g, 563.54 ${\pm}$ 5.60$\mu\textrm{g}$/dm$^2$and 73.51 ${\pm}$ 5.09$\mu\textrm{g}$/g 149.22 ${\pm}$ 10.34$\mu\textrm{g}$/dm$^2$were detected from the container for lunch and for stock fish respectively.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.8.1-8.9
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• 2011

Objectives: This study assessed the health risks for children exposed to phthalate through several pathways including house dust, surface wipes and hand wipes in child facilities and indoor playgrounds. Methods: The indoor samples were collected from various children's facilities (40 playrooms, 42 daycare centers, 44 kindergartens, and 42 indoor-playgrounds) in both summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). Hazard index (HI) was estimated for the non-carcinogens and the examined phthalates were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP). The present study examined these four kinds of samples, i.e., indoor dust, surface wipes of product and hand wipes. Results: Among the phthalates, the detection rates of DEHP were 98% in dust samples, 100% in surface wipe samples, and 95% in hand wipe samples. In this study, phthalate levels obtained from floor dust, product surface and children's hand wipe samples were similar to or slightly less compared to previous studies. The $50^{th}$ and $95^{th}$ percentile value of child-sensitive materials did not exceed 1 (HI) for all subjects in all facilities. Conclusions: For DEHP, DnBP and BBzP their detection rates through multi-routes were high and their risk based on health risk assessment was also observed to be acceptable. This study suggested that ingestion and dermal exposure could be the most important pathway of phthalates besides digestion through food.