Elimination, distribution and metabolism of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) in rats.

The excretion, retention, distribution and metabolism of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) have been studied in the rat. After oral administration of [14C]DEHA, almost all the dose was excreted within 48 h, predominantly in the urine and as respiratory carbon dioxide. The faecal excretion was low. There was no evidence of the accumulation of radioactivity in any organs or tissues. Adipic acid (AA) was found to be the main urinary metabolite; it was also detected in the digestive tract, blood and liver. In vitro, DEHA was hydrolyzed at a significant rate by tissue preparations prepared from liver, pancreas and small intestine of the rat. These results suggest that orally administered DEHA is rapidly hydrolyzed in the body to form AA without any accumulation of mono-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (MEHA).