International journal of pharmaceutics
-
Comparative Study
Evaluation of childhood exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from perfusion kits during long-term parenteral nutrition.
Leachability of the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from administration sets into intravenous parenteral emulsions containing fat was investigated. DEHP is added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to impart flexibility. However, DEHP is a lipid-soluble suspected carcinogen that is hepatotoxic and teratogenic in rodents, and has been shown to leach from PVC products containing lipophilic mixtures. ⋯ The same phenomenon was observed after 1 week of storage at 4 degrees C. DEHP extraction by TPN depends on the lipid content of each TPN preparation and the flow rate. These results suggest that children treated with prolonged TPN are regularly exposed to significant amounts of DEHP.