Determination of phthalates and their by-products in tissues of roach (Rutilus rutilus) from the Orge river (France)

Seven phthalate by-products were investigated for the first time, in target tissues of roach from a contaminated river of the Ile-de-France district. All parent phthalates were bioaccumulated in liver and muscle and liver contents were correlated with river concentrations (p < 0.01). All metabolites were found in liver, plasma and bile. The mono-iso-butyl phthalate (MiBP; 1.6 μg g(-1) dw of liver), followed by mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP; 1.5 μg g(-1) dw of liver) were the most abundant ones. Among the three metabolites of di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) predominated in bile (15.5 ng ml(-1)) and liver (0.237 μg g(-1) dw), whereas in plasma, it was mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate - MEHHP (214 ng ml(-1)). In liver, MEHP/DEHP ratios ranged from 0.04 to 0.2. Among the oxidized metabolites, only mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was correlated (p < 0.05) with parent DEHP and appeared to be a more reliable marker of DEHP impact than the monoester.