Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Toxic Reactions: Overview

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...

Types of Toxins

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...

Toxicokinetics: Overview

Toxicokinetics: Overview

Studies that assess how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted (ADME) at toxic doses are termed toxicokinetics. Understanding toxicokinetics helps predict adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and manage toxicity in humans.Toxicokinetics differs from pharmacokinetics mainly in the dose levels studied, with toxicokinetics focusing on higher toxic doses. The kinetics at these levels can be non-linear due to altered physiological processes. Toxicodynamics examines the relationship...

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...

Bioplastics

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Mothers and children are related, even in exposure to chemicals present in common consumer products.

Environmental research·2019

Same author

Urinary Phthalate Concentrations in Mothers and Their Children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2017

Same author

Human biomonitoring pilot study DEMOCOPHES in Germany: Contribution to a harmonized European approach.

International journal of hygiene and environmental health·2017

Same author

New HBM values for emerging substances, inventory of reference and HBM values in force, and working principles of the German Human Biomonitoring Commission.

International journal of hygiene and environmental health·2016

Same author

New human biomonitoring methods for chemicals of concern-the German approach to enhance relevance.

International journal of hygiene and environmental health·2016

Same author

Quantification of naphthoquinone mercapturic acids in urine as biomarkers of naphthalene exposure.

Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences·2016

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Metabolite Production

Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Metabolite Production

Published on: June 2, 2023

Phthalates: metabolism and exposure.

Matthias Wittassek¹, Jürgen Angerer

¹Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.

International Journal of Andrology

|December 12, 2007

Summary

Human metabolism studies reveal significant urinary excretion of phthalates like DEHP and DiNP. Children exhibit higher phthalate exposure and more effective metabolism compared to adults, suggesting a need for cumulative TDI values.

More Related Videos

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants

Published on: February 10, 2023

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants

Published on: December 22, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Metabolite Production

Collection of Alfalfa Root Exudates to Study the Impact of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on Metabolite Production

Published on: June 2, 2023

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants

Published on: February 10, 2023

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants

Assessing Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Typical Triazole Pesticides in Plants

Published on: December 22, 2023

Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Human Metabolism
Toxicology

Background:

Phthalates are common plasticizers with widespread human exposure.
Understanding phthalate metabolism and excretion is crucial for risk assessment.
Previous studies suggest varying metabolic pathways and excretion rates for different phthalates.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the human metabolism and urinary excretion of specific phthalates: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), and di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP).
To estimate daily phthalate intake levels in a German population across different age groups.
To evaluate the implications of phthalate metabolism and potential endocrine-disrupting effects for cumulative risk assessment.

Main Methods:

Human metabolism studies involving oral administration of DEHP, DiNP, and DPHP.
Analysis of urinary metabolites to identify primary metabolic products.
Quantification of urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in 102 German subjects (ages 6-80) to estimate daily intakes.

Main Results:

High urinary excretion rates observed: at least 74% for DEHP, 44% for DiNP, and 34% for DPHP.
Oxidized products, not monoesters, were the main urinary metabolites for these phthalates.
Estimated median daily intakes (microg/kg/day): DEHP (2.7), di-n-butyl phthalate (2.1), diisobutyl phthalate (1.5), DiNP (0.6), and butylbenzyl phthalate (0.3).
Children generally showed higher phthalate exposures and more effective oxidative metabolism than adults.

Conclusions:

Phthalates are significantly excreted via urine, primarily as oxidized metabolites in humans.
Exposure levels vary by phthalate and are generally higher in children.
The dose-additive endocrine-disrupting potential of phthalates necessitates considering cumulative TDI values for comprehensive risk assessment.