DEHP Exposure Levels and Reproductive Effects

DEHP (99% purity) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (CAS Number, 117-81-7; St. Lois, USA). Tocopherol-stripped corn oil (the vehicle) was purchased from MP Bio Medicals (Solon, OH). Stock solutions of DEHP were prepared by diluting it in the vehicle to obtain the desired concentrations. The lowest DEHP dose (20 µg/kg/day) was selected because it is the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference dose for human exposure¹⁵ , and this dose has been previously shown to affect female reproductive parameters^{105 (link)}. The 200 µg/kg/day was selected because prenatal exposure to these levels has been shown to affect reproduction and induce premature reproductive senescence in male mice^{33 ,65 (link),106 (link)}. Further, occupational exposure has been shown to reach these levels^{107 (link)}.