AUTHOR=Li Weixia , Guo Liqiong , Fang Junkai , Zhao Lei , Song Shanjun , Fang Tao , Li Chenguang , Wang Lei , Li Penghui 

TITLE=Phthalates and phthalate metabolites in urine from Tianjin and implications for platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108555

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108555

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Phthalates (PAEs) are important synthetic substances in plastics, attracting much attention due to their potential effects on the cardiovascular system.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this study, urine and blood samples from 39 individuals were collected in Tianjin, China. Phthalates and phthalate metabolites (mPAEs) were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), respectively. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from bisulfite-treated mitochondrial DNA (<italic>mtDNA</italic>) samples were analyzed using pyrosequencing technology.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The detection frequencies for 9 PAEs varied from 2.56 to 92.31%, and those for 10 mPAEs varied from 30.77 to 100%. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) and cumulative risk of PAEs were calculated based on the experimental statistics of urinary PAEs and mPAEs. For PAEs, the HI<sub>RfD</sub> (hazard index corresponding to reference doses) values of 10.26% of participants and the HI<sub>TDI</sub> (hazard index corresponding to tolerable daily intake) values of 30.77% of participants were estimated to exceed 1, suggesting a relatively high exposure risk. The <italic>mtDNA</italic> methylation levels in the <italic>MT-ATP8</italic> and <italic>MT-ND5</italic> were observed to be lower than in the <italic>MT-ATP6</italic>. Mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) and <italic>MT-ATP8</italic> were positively correlated with triglyceride levels (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Based on the association of PAEs, <italic>mtDNA</italic> methylation, and triglycerides, the mediating role of <italic>mtDNA</italic> methylation between PAEs and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) was analyzed in this study, but no mediated effect was observed.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The effects of PAE exposure on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) should be investigated further.</p></sec>