Reproductive and neurobehavioural toxicity study of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) administered to mice in the diet.

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was given in the diet to provide levels of 0 (control), 0.01, 0.03, and 0.09% from 5 weeks of age of the F0 generation to 9 weeks of age of the F1 generation in mice, and selected reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. There were no adverse effects of DEHP on either litter size, litter weight or sex ratio at birth. The average body weight of male offspring was significantly decreased in the low-dose group at birth. In behavioural developmental parameters, surface righting at PND 4 was significantly delayed in the low- and middle-dose group in female offspring, and those effects were slightly dose related (P < 0.05). Surface righting at PND 7 was significantly depressed in the high-dose group of male offspring, and those effects were significantly dose related (P < 0.001). That of female offspring was significantly depressed in the low-dose group. The dose level of DEHP in the present study produced few adverse effects in reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters in mice.