Evaluation of the Effects of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on Caenorhabditis elegans Survival and Fertility

Di-2-ethylhexyl (DEHP), which is widely used in industrial products, is produced annually in excess of 2 million tons worldwide. DEHP is an endocrine disruptor and one of the major environmental pollutant chemicals (EDCs) in nature. There is some information about the effects of these products, which provide great advantages in every respect, on human health and the environment. In this study, C. elegans organism was used to evaluate the health and environmental risks of DEHP. The survival and fertility effects of DEHP on the C. elegans organism were examined and the results were evaluated. In the study, it was determined that DEHP not only shortened the survival time of C. elegans but also caused a decrease in fertility. DEHP (0.625 mM and 10 mM) caused a 23.2–30.6% decrease in fertility. Additionally, the LC₅₀ (50% lethal concentration) value of DEHP was found to be 321 µg/mL.