Risk of Phthalate Exposure among Hospitalized Patient via Intravenous Fluids Receiving

Background: Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products. Several pharmaceutical products have been stored in PET containers, and due to serious health effects of phthalates, migration levels of them into pharmaceutical products must be determined. In the present study, leaching levels of four common phthalate esters including di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) into various types of infusion fluids form four different commercial brand were investigated. Methods: Trace levels of phthalate esters were successfully extracted by a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method using acetonitrile as dispersive and CCL4 as an extraction solvent and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Different levels DEHP were detected in all samples (mean=10.55±6.88 and maximum=19.7 ppb). While no levels of other phthalates were detected in some samples, some other contained up to 25.1±17.7, 15.4±8.3, 8.1 ppb DEP, DBP, and BBP respectively. Mean total phthalate ester (TPE) levels in infusion fluids were 7.92±5.68 ppb. Phthalate leaching into normal saline was significantly lower than other types of serums and brand ID#3’ products contain minimum phthalate levels compared to other brands. Conclusions: Hospitalized patient particularly those who regularly take serum-therapy and children are at significant risk of phthalate exposure via intravenous fluids receiving.