Objective To study phthalate exposure levels in kidney hemodialysis patients.
Methods Dialysis information were collected from 52 patients with kidney hemodialysis treatment in a third-grade-first-class hospital by questionnaires. Concentrations of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in serum samples were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results Both DBP and DEHP were detected in the serum samples of 52 nephropathy patients (positive rates, 100%), and the average concentration of DBP was lower than that of DEHP. The DBP concentrations showed no statistical differences between genders, but the average DEHP concentration was higher in female than in male. The single duration of hemodialysis was associated with the DEHP concentrations, but not with the DBP concentrations. No statistical differences in the DBP and the DEHP concentrations were found among patients identified by hemodialysis frequency. Forty-nine patients spent more than 6 h for hemodialysis per week, accounting for 94.23% of total kidney hemodialysis patients in terviewed. The hemodialysis years were not associated with either the DBP or the DEHP concentrations in serum.
Conclusion Serum DEHP concentrations in hemodialysis patients are associated with gender and duration of hemodialysis; while DBP concentrations present no association with kidney dialysis.