Phthalate monoesters in association with uterine leiomyomata in Shanghai

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental pollutants because of the broad use of plastics. We conducted a case-control study to determine whether uterine leiomyomata were related to exposure to phthalates. Urine specimens and questionnaires were collected from 61 cases and 61 age-matched controls. Nine phthalate monoesters were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy. Cases had significantly higher levels of creatinine-adjusted mono-iso-butyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate, mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), total di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (∑DEHPmet), and total dibutyl phthalate metabolites (∑DBP(met)) than controls. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression analyses demonstrated that leiomyomata were positively associated with MiBP, MnBP, MEHP, MEHHP, MECPP, ∑DEHP(met), and ∑DBP(met). In summary, our data support the hypothesis that uterine leiomyomata are related to phthalate exposure.