Phthalates urine test: what it measures, sources and limits

What are phthalates?

CDC says phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break, often called plasticizers; some are used as solvents for other materials. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a commonly used plasticizer.[1]

Where does exposure come from?

CDC lists products such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothing such as raincoats, and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays and nail polishes). Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, including packaging film, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers and medical tubing.[1] Our marker directory notes that MEP mainly reflects diethyl phthalate, a solvent and fragrance carrier used in some perfumes, cosmetics and personal-care products.[2]

How to test for phthalates at home

Order the Intrinsic Prism test online, collect your samples at home with the kit, and a courier picks them up.[3] The test lists four phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MEOHP, MEHP and MEP) among 38 environmental toxins, inside a 133+ marker test. These measure chemicals from plastics and personal-care products, not microplastic particles. [2]

What can and can't a result tell you?

It can

• Show recent exposure to DEHP (through MEHHP, MEOHP and MEHP) and to diethyl phthalate (through MEP).[1][2]
• Give a baseline you can retest against after changing products or packaging.

It can't

• Show long-term exposure: CDC notes metabolites pass out quickly in urine.[1]
• Identify the product responsible or predict a health effect.[2]
• Count microplastic particles in your body; no consumer test does.

A measured level shows exposure. It does not by itself mean the chemical is causing disease.[4] Results are educational and are not a diagnosis; review them with a clinician.

See what studies show on plastics and testosterone.

Related pages

• Bisphenol A (BPA) urine test
• Parabens urine test
• Triclosan urine test
• Microplastics and plastic chemical tests
• How to test for PFAS, glyphosate and phthalates at home
• Environmental toxins on What we Test
• All marker guides

Frequently asked questions

Can I test for phthalates at home?

Yes. The Intrinsic Prism urine kit lists four phthalate metabolites: MEHHP, MEOHP, MEHP and MEP.[2] You collect at home and a courier picks the kit up.[3]

Why does a phthalate test measure metabolites?

CDC says phthalates are converted into breakdown products (metabolites) that pass out quickly in urine, so urine tests measure those metabolites.[1]

Is a phthalate test the same as a microplastics test?

No. Phthalate metabolites are chemicals associated with plastics and personal-care products; the test does not count plastic particles.[2]

Which phthalates does Intrinsic Prism not list?

What we Test lists four metabolites. Other phthalate metabolites that CDC’s survey measures, such as mono-n-butyl or mono-benzyl phthalate, are not listed.[2][1]