Levels of plasticizer in the frequent plasma donor

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a commonly employed plasticizer reported to be carcinogenic in rats and mice, has been confirmed to leach from all plastic component parts of the equipment employed in plasma donation. Resident aqueous solutions of both sodium chloride and sodium citrate were found to contain only trace levels of DEHP (0.03 ppm), while stored plasma samples contained levels at least one order of magnitude higher (0.4 ppm). Since at least 5% of all plasma donations in the Los Angeles area are deemed to be of the high frequency classification, investigation into repeated red blood cell exposure to DEHP was considered imperative. However, there was no difference in the levels of DEHP found in the plasma of the frequent plasma donor (50-60 times per annum) relative to the first-time donor. It is concluded that there is no increased contamination threat to frequent plasma donation from migrating plasticizer via red blood cell exposure, at least during the collection process. Furthermore, there is no more risk to recipients of plasma products from frequent donors than from occasional donors. It would seem that the ambient level of DEHP to be expected in stored frozen plasma products averages no greater than about 0.5 ppm.