[Genotoxicity of phthalates. On the discussion of plasticizers in children's toys].

Recently, health hazards caused by phthalates, which are added as softeners to plastic materials, have been subject to discussion. The aim of the present study was to measure possible genotoxic impacts on mucosal cells of the upper aerodigestive tract. Genotoxicity tests for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) on human oropharyngeal mucosa in vitro were performed using the alkaline comet assay. Specimens (n = 50) were harvested from the surface of ectomized tonsils. DBP and DiBP caused significant DNA damage in human mucosal cells of the upper aerodigestive tract. The impact of DiBP was higher than that of DBP. A genotoxic impact of phthalates on human epithelial cells as a hazard to babies and children chewing these materials cannot be excluded and demands further investigation. The DNA damage measured in this study may represent one factor in the complex genesis of neoplasms in the upper aerodigestive tract.