Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in pregnant women living near Chapala Lake, Jalisco, Mexico

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid used in a broad array of consumer products and food contact surfaces. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and oxidant stressors, and exposure has been associated with premature birth, asthma, obesity, insulin resistance and endometriosis. Though many industrializing countries are known to manufacture phthalates, few studies have examined exposure to phthalates in this context, let alone in rural communities where phthalate-containing products are widely used. We evaluated the presence of 16 phthalate metabolites in third trimester pregnant women in three rural communities near the largest lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala, by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in 90 urine samples. Phthalate metabolites were found in all samples, where the highest concentration was 1830 ng/mL in mono-ethyl phthalate (mEP), and it was present in 98.9% of all samples. These findings suggest the need for further research on the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals in developing countries, and public health guidance on opportunities for prevention.