An Evaluation of the Effects of Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) on Mitotically Capable Cells in Blood Packs

Abstract

Published data on the characteristics of Di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) have suggested that the use of plastic blood bags could cause adverse effects following excessive transfusion. In this report it is shown that any difference in the overall frequency of chromosomal abnormalities for cells stored in glass or plastic containers is not related to structural components leaching into the cellular millieu but very likely is a property inherent in the blood. This conclusion is supported by our failure to find a dose response relationship between damage to lymphocytic chromosomes and DEHP concentration over the range expected to be found in plastic blood bags. The study also investigated the mitotic rate and growth of lymphocytes exposed to DEHP. The findings suggest that the major effect of DEHP on lymphocytes is an inhibition of mitosis and growth rather than genetic damage.