Effect of heat on the conversion of di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate to mono‐2‐ ethylhexyl phthalate in human plasma

Abstract

Plasma di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which accumulates during blood storage in plastic bags, gives rise to plasma mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). This also in plasma samples awaiting analysis, which are no longer stored in plastic bags. Heating plasma samples at 60 C for 25 to 30 minutes in a water bath effectively halts conversion of DEHP to MEHP during subsequent room temperature storage for at least 100 hours. This result is consistent with the view that MEHP accumulation in plasma is due to enzymatic hydrolysis of DEHP by esterase (s) which can be heat-inactivated.