Microbial production and vaporization of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate by microorganisms inside houses.

Laboratory workers were bothered by an irritation that caused coughing during the cultivation of microorganisms that degraded di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The authors found that mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), a known cause of asthma, was released during the degradation of DEHP. At its highest production and vaporization rate, the amount was almost equal to that of the DEHP starting material.