Exposición a ftalatos por procedimientos médicos en varones recién nacidos

Although human exposure to plasticizers such as phthalates is generalized, some infants could be exposed at potentially toxic levels. We performed an observational study to assess if infants under invasive medical procedures are more exposed to phthalates than the general population because of the plasticizers used in medical devices. Urinary metabolites concentrations of the most commonly used phthalates, monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), mono2( ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and monooctyl phthalate (MOP) were measured in 30 newborns under intensive therapy and 30 newborns from the normal maternity room. Average urine MEHP concentration was 46.82 μg/L for newborns under intensive therapy and 5.19 μg/L for children in maternity room (p <0.001). MEHP is the primary metabolite of di2( ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the main plasticizer used in medical devices. Results from this exploratory study show higher exposure levels in the group of newborns under neonatal intensive therapy as compared to newborns in maternity room. The health significance of this exposure remains uncertain.