Levels of phthalates in human milk samples from central Italy

This study concerns the presence and levels of phthalic acid diester DEHP and its metabolite MEHP in human biological samples; breast milk, as the only food given to infants in the first few months of life, is the chosen matrix and studying its DEHP and MEHP concentrations represents one of the most important ways to remove this kind of contaminants from the human body. The study was carried out on 32 samples of human milk, obtained from women living in Siena and its district, in central Italy. The contaminant's extraction was done using an ion-pairing extraction procedure, and then the concentrations were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results show the presence of MEHP in each sample (mean value 17.41 ng/g w.w.), while DEHP has never been detected. Comparing the results of these analyses with a previous work, carried out on Italian breast milk samples, we have found a higher mean level of MEHP but a lower maximum level. In order to quantify the amount of the molecules of interest transmitted by mother to child during breast feeding, we estimated the daily intake of MEHP that resulted lower than safety limits. Highlights ► The study was carried out on samples of human milk, obtained from women living in Siena and its district (Central Italy). ► We analyzed phthalates levels. ► The results show the presence of MEHP, metabolite of the phthalate DEHP, in each sample, while DEHP has never been detected. ► Comparing the results with a previous work we found a higher mean level of MEHP but a lower maximum level. ► We estimated the infants’ daily intake of MEHP, that resulted lower than safety limits.