Concentration levels of phthalate metabolites in wild boar hair samples

Abstract

Phthalates used in the industry penetrate the environment and negatively affect humans and animals. Hair samples seem to be the best matrix for studies on long-term exposure to phthalates, but till now they were used only in investigations on humans. Moreover, the knowledge of the wild terrestrial animal exposure to phthalates is extremely limited. This study aimed to establish of concentration levels of selected phthalate metabolites (i.e. monomethyl phthalate-MMP, monoethyl phthalate-MEP, mono-isobutyl phthalate-MiBP, monobutyl phthalate-MBP, monobenzyl phthalate-MBzP, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate-MCHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-MEHP and mono-n-octyl phthalate-MOP) in wild boar hair samples using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. MEHP was noted in 90.7% of samples with mean 66.17 ± 58.69 pg/mg (median 49.35 pg/mg), MMP in 59.3% with mean 145.1 ± 310.6 pg/mg (median 64.45 pg/mg), MiBP in 37.0% with mean 56.96 ± 119.4 pg/mg (median < limit of detection-LOD), MBP in 35.2% with mean 19.97 ± 34.38 pg/mg (median < LOD) and MBzP in 1.9% with concentration below limit of quantification. MEP, MCHP, and MOP have not been found in wild boar hair samples during this study. The results have shown that wild boars are exposed to phthalates and hair samples may be used as a matrix during studies on levels of phthalate metabolites in wild animals.

Keywords: Biomonitoring; Endocrine-disrupting chemicals; Environmental pollution; Phthalates; Wildlife.

Figure 1

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) monomethyl phthalate—MMP, (B) mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), (C) monobutyl phthalate—MBP, and (D) mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in wild boar hair samples of males (M) and females (F). Intragender statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were not observed. The figure was created using GraphPad Prism version 9.2.0 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California USA).

Figure 2

Mean concentration levels (± SD) of (A) monomethyl phthalate—MMP, (B) mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), (C) monobutyl phthalate—MBP, and (D) mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in wild boar hair samples—MEHP in (1) voivodeships with a high degree of industrialization and high human population density (Silesian and Pomeranian) and (2) voivodeships with a low and medium degree of industrialization and low human population density (Kuyavian-Pomeranian, West Pomeranian and Holy Cross). Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were not observed. The figure was created using GraphPad Prism version 9.2.0 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California USA).