Women exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol A (BPA) from different residing areas in Italy: data from the LIFE PERSUADED project

Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are plasticizers used in many industrial products that can act as endocrine disruptors. In the frame of the LIFE PERSUADED project, we measured the urinary concentrations of BPA and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites in 900 Italian women enrolled between 2015 and 2017 and living in North, Centre and South of Italy in both rural and urban areas. The whole cohort, representative of the Italian female adult population, was exposed to DEHP and BPA with measurable levels above the limit of detection (LOD) in more than 99% and 95% of the samples, respectively. The exposure patterns differed for the two chemicals in the three macro-areas with the highest urinary levels for DEHP in South compared to Central and Northern Italy and for BPA in Northern compared to Central and Southern Italy. BPA levels were higher in women living in urban areas, whereas no difference between areas was observed for DEHP. The estimated daily intake of BPA was 0.11 g/kg per day, about 36-fold below the current temporary Tolerable Daily Intake of 4 g/kg per day established by the European Food Safety Authority in 2015. The analysis of cumulative exposure showed a positive correlation between DEHP and BPA. These results suggest to further limit the exposure to DEHP and BPA through specific legislative measures.