Investigating the urinary concentrations and distribution of phthalate metabolites in cow urine distillate in India

Abstract

The exposure of cows to a variety of endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been linked to the development of diseases and poses a significant concern. In India, distillates of cow urine are utilized in numerous products such as food, medicine, and cosmetics. The safety of these products is being questioned due to the potential presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals as a cow is exposed to these chemicals through multiple pathways. Hence, we determine phthalate metabolites in cow urine distillate products by LC-MS/MS. The calibration curves for all phthalate metabolites ranged from 1 ng mL⁻¹ to 200 ng mL⁻¹. The accuracy and precision of phthalate metabolites at all concentrations examined were well within acceptable limits at inter-day and intra-day levels. Almost all the cow urine distillate samples showed a higher proportion of low molecular weight phthalates. The mean concentrations of phthalate metabolites were 407.6 ng mL⁻¹ (mono-methyl phthalate, MMP), 35.6 ng mL⁻¹ (mono-isobutyl phthalate, MiBP) and 22.25 ng mL⁻¹ (mono-ethyl phthalate, MEP). MMP, MiBP and MEP were predominant in cow urine distillate accounting for 86.1%, 7.5% and 4.7%, respectively. Investigations are required to identify the source and scale of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in cow urine and the risk of contamination in its products. This information can guide the development of strategies to minimize endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure and ensure the safety of animal-derived products. Additionally, it can provide insight into the impact on cow health.