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BioMed Research International 2018Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is extensively used as a plasticizer in many products, especially medical devices, furniture materials, cosmetics, and personal care... (Review)
Review
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is extensively used as a plasticizer in many products, especially medical devices, furniture materials, cosmetics, and personal care products. DEHP is noncovalently bound to plastics, and therefore, it will leach out of these products after repeated use, heating, and/or cleaning of the products. Due to the overuse of DEHP in many products, it enters and pollutes the environment through release from industrial settings and plastic waste disposal sites. DEHP can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact on a daily basis, which has raised some concerns about its safety and its potential effects on human health. The main aim of this review is to give an overview of the endocrine, testicular, ovarian, neural, hepatotoxic, and cardiotoxic effects of DEHP on animal models and humans and .
Topics: Animals; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Plasticizers; Plastics
PubMed: 29682520
DOI: 10.1155/2018/1750368 -
Environment International Jan 2022In this review of reviews, we overview the current global body of available evidence from structured reviews of epidemiological studies that explore human health... (Review)
Review
In this review of reviews, we overview the current global body of available evidence from structured reviews of epidemiological studies that explore human health outcomes associated with exposure to phthalates (chemical plasticisers commonly found in plastics). We found robust evidence for an association with lower semen quality, neurodevelopment and risk of childhood asthma, and moderate to robust evidence for impact on anogenital distance in boys. We identified moderate evidence for an association between phthalates/metabolites and low birthweight, endometriosis, decreased testosterone, ADHD, Type 2 diabetes and breast/uterine cancer. There was some evidence for other outcomes including anofourchette distance, fetal sex hormones, pre-term birth, lower antral follicle count, reduced oestrodiol, autism, obesity, thyroid function and hearing disorders. We found no reviews of epidemiological human studies on the impact of phthalates from recycled plastics on human health. We recommend that future research should use urine samples as exposure measures, consider confounders in analyses and measure impacts on female reproductive systems. Our findings align with emerging research indicating that health risks can occur at exposure levels below the "safe dose" levels set out by regulators, and are of particular concern given potential additive or synergistic "cocktail effects" of chemicals. This raises important policy and regulatory issues for identifying and controlling plastics and health related impacts and highlights a need for more research into substances of concern entering plastics waste streams via recycling.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Male; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Semen Analysis
PubMed: 34601394
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106903 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Oct 2017Disregarding the rising alarm on the hazardous nature of various phthalates and their metabolites, ruthless usage of phthalates as plasticizer in plastics and as... (Review)
Review
Disregarding the rising alarm on the hazardous nature of various phthalates and their metabolites, ruthless usage of phthalates as plasticizer in plastics and as additives in innumerable consumer products continues due low their cost, attractive properties, and lack of suitable alternatives. Globally, in silico computational, in vitro mechanistic, in vivo preclinical and limited clinical or epidemiological human studies showed that over a dozen phthalates and their metabolites ingested passively by man from the general environment, foods, drinks, breathing air, and routine household products cause various dysfunctions. Thus, this review addresses the health hazards posed by phthalates on children and adolescents, epigenetic modulation, reproductive toxicity in women and men; insulin resistance and type II diabetes; overweight and obesity, skeletal anomalies, allergy and asthma, cancer, etc., coupled with the description of major phthalates and their general uses, phthalate exposure routes, biomonitoring and risk assessment, special account on endocrine disruption; and finally, a plausible molecular cross-talk with a unique mechanism of action. This clinically focused comprehensive review on the hazards of phthalates would benefit the general population, academia, scientists, clinicians, environmentalists, and law or policy makers to decide upon whether usage of phthalates to be continued swiftly without sufficient deceleration or regulated by law or to be phased out from earth forever.
Topics: Animals; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Monitoring; Epigenomics; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Overweight; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 28800814
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.06.036 -
Comparative Biochemistry and... Jan 2023Phthalates are one of the most widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and they are increasingly being exposed to people all over the world, generating health... (Review)
Review
Phthalates are one of the most widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and they are increasingly being exposed to people all over the world, generating health concerns. Phthalates are often used as excipients in controlled-release capsules and enteric coatings, and patients taking these drugs may be at risk. In both animals and human, phthalates are mainly responsible for testicular dysfunction, ovarian toxicity, reduction in steroidogenesis. In this regard, for a better understanding of the health concerns corresponding to phthalates and their metabolites, still more research is required. Significantly, multifarious forms of phthalates and their biomedical effects are need to be beneficial to investigate in the various tissues or organs. Based on these investigations, researchers can decipher their toxicity concerns and related mechanisms in the body after phthalate's exposure. This review summarizes the chemical interactions, mechanisms, and their biomedical applications of phthalates in animals and human.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Female; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers; Ovary; Polymers; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 36374650
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109498 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2023Plastic pollution in our oceans is of growing concern particularly due to the presence of toxic additives, such as plasticisers. Therefore, this work aims to develop a...
Plastic pollution in our oceans is of growing concern particularly due to the presence of toxic additives, such as plasticisers. Therefore, this work aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the leaching properties of plasticisers from microplastics. This work investigates the leaching of phthalate acid ester (dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) and diphenol (bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS)) plasticisers from polystyrene (PS) microplastics (mean diameter = 136 μm to 1.4 mm) under controlled aqueous conditions (temperature, agitation, pH and salinity). The leaching behaviours of plasticised polymers were quantified using gel permeation chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and thermal gravimetric analysis, and the particle's plasticisation characterised using differential scanning calorimetry. Leaching rates of phthalate acid ester and diphenol plasticisers were modelled using a diffusion and boundary layer model, whereby these behaviours varied depending on their plasticisation efficiency of PS, the size of the microplastic particle and the surrounding abiotic conditions. Leaching behaviours of DEHT and DEHP were strongly influenced by the microplastic-surface water boundary layer properties, thus wave action (i.e., water agitation) increased the leaching rate of these plasticiser up to 66 % over 21-days, whereas BPA and BPS plasticisers displayed temperature- and size-dependent leaching and were limited by molecular diffusion throughout the bulk polymer (i.e., the microplastic). This information will improve predictions of plasticiser concentration (both that remain in the plastic and released into the surrounding water) at specific time points during the lifetime of a plastic, ultimately ensuring greater accuracy in the assessment of toxicity responses and environmental water quality.
Topics: Microplastics; Plasticizers; Plastics; Polystyrenes; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Polymers; Esters
PubMed: 36181812
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159099 -
Environment International Jan 2021We present a list of Chemicals of Concern (CoCs) in plastic toys. We started from available studies reporting chemical composition of toys to group plastic materials, as...
We present a list of Chemicals of Concern (CoCs) in plastic toys. We started from available studies reporting chemical composition of toys to group plastic materials, as well as to gather mass fractions and function of chemicals in these materials. Chemical emissions from plastic toys and subsequent human exposures were then estimated using a series of models and a coupled near-field and far-field exposure assessment framework. Comparing human doses with reference doses shows high Hazard Quotients of up to 387 and cancer risk calculated using cancer slope factors of up to 0.0005. Plasticizers in soft plastic materials show the highest risk, with 31 out of the 126 chemicals identified as CoCs, with sum of Hazard Quotients >1 or child cancer risk >10. Our results indicate that a relevant amount of chemicals used in plastic toy materials may pose a non-negligible health risk to children, calling for more refined investigations and more human- and eco-friendly alternatives. The 126 chemicals identified as CoCs were compared with other existing regulatory prioritization lists. While some of our chemicals appear in other lists, we also identified additional priority chemicals that are not yet covered elsewhere and thus require further attention. We finally derive for all considered chemicals the maximum Acceptable Chemical Content (ACC) in the grouped toy plastic materials as powerful green chemistry tool to check whether chemical alternatives could create substantial risks.
Topics: Child; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Plasticizers; Plastics; Play and Playthings; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 33115697
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106194 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Nov 2015Phthalates or phthalic acid esters are a group of xenobiotic and hazardous compounds blended in plastics to enhance their plasticity and versatility. Enormous quantities... (Review)
Review
Phthalates or phthalic acid esters are a group of xenobiotic and hazardous compounds blended in plastics to enhance their plasticity and versatility. Enormous quantities of phthalates are produced globally for the production of plastic goods, whose disposal and leaching out into the surroundings cause serious concerns to the environment, biota and human health. Though in silico computational, in vitro mechanistic, pre-clinical animal and clinical human studies showed endocrine disruption, hepatotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic properties, usage of phthalates continues due to their cuteness, attractive chemical properties, low production cost and lack of suitable alternatives. Studies revealed that microbes isolated from phthalate-contaminated environmental niches efficiently bioremediate various phthalates. Based upon this background, this review addresses the enumeration of major phthalates used in industry, routes of environmental contamination, evidences for health hazards, routes for in situ and ex situ microbial degradation, bacterial pathways involved in the degradation, major enzymes involved in the degradation process, half-lives of phthalates in environments, etc. Briefly, this handy module would enable the readers, environmentalists and policy makers to understand the impact of phthalates on the environment and the biota, coupled with the concerted microbial efforts to alleviate the burden of ever increasing load posed by phthalates.
Topics: Animals; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Pollution; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Hazardous Substances; Humans; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers
PubMed: 26004054
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.05.004 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Sep 2023Being an essential component in the plastics industry, phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment and in everyday life. They are considered environmental contaminants... (Review)
Review
Being an essential component in the plastics industry, phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment and in everyday life. They are considered environmental contaminants that have been classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds. Despite di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) being the most common plasticizer and the most studied to date, there are many others that, in addition to being widely used in the plastic, are also applied in the medical and pharmaceutical industries and cosmetics. Due to their wide use, phthalates are easily absorbed by the human body where they can disrupt the endocrine system by binding to molecular targets and interfering with hormonal homeostasis. Thus, phthalates exposure has been implicated in the development of several diseases in different age groups. Collecting information from the most recent available literature, this review aims to relate human phthalates' exposure with the development of cardiovascular diseases throughout all ages. Overall, most of the studies presented demonstrated an association between phthalates and several cardiovascular diseases, either from prenatal or postnatal exposure, affecting foetuses, infants, children, young and older adults. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly explored. Thus, considering the cardiovascular diseases incidence worldwide and the constant human exposure to phthalates, this topic should be extensively studied to understand the mechanisms involved.
Topics: Pregnancy; Child; Female; Humans; Aged; Environmental Exposure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Phthalic Acids; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Plasticizers; Plastics
PubMed: 37269565
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131680 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2018Food is a multicomponent system that mainly comprises protein, carbohydrate, fat, and water. During food processing and preservation, various physical changes (e.g.,... (Review)
Review
Food is a multicomponent system that mainly comprises protein, carbohydrate, fat, and water. During food processing and preservation, various physical changes (e.g., melting, crystallization, glass transition) occur in food products, affecting their quality. This chapter specifically examines the effect of physical changes on the quality of dry and frozen food products. Dry food products are commonly in an amorphous state. Therefore, glass transition occurs during their dehydration-rehydration processing. To control their texture and physical stability, it is important to elucidate the effects of water contents on the glass transition temperature of dry food products. Frozen foods consist of ice crystals and freeze-concentrated matrix. The formation of ice crystal and the dynamics of ice crystal evolution affect food quality. Therefore control of ice crystals is important for high-quality frozen food. Moreover, because freeze-concentrated matrix consists of solute that are plasticized by the unfrozen water and is in an amorphous state, it can undergo glass transition by freeze concentration. The physical state of freeze-concentrated matrix also strongly affects the stability of food quality during frozen storage.
Topics: Crystallization; Desiccation; Food Additives; Food Handling; Food Preservation; Food Quality; Freezing; Frozen Foods; Ice; Plasticizers; Vitrification; Water
PubMed: 30288721
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-1244-1_21 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Nov 2019Phthalates esters (PAEs) are important organic compounds used as plasticizers to enhance their plasticity and versatility. At the same time, PAEs are also typical... (Review)
Review
Phthalates esters (PAEs) are important organic compounds used as plasticizers to enhance their plasticity and versatility. At the same time, PAEs are also typical environmental endocrine disruptors. Long-term production and use of plastic products have caused harm to the environment and organisms, as well as human health. Previous studies found that biodegradation has become a main pathway to reduce PAEs in the environment. This article reviews PAEs' structural characteristics and classifications, toxicology, pollution in the environment, summarizes the diversity of PAEs-degrading bacterial species, and explores the possible mechanisms of bacterial PAEs degradation. The article may provide some reference in solving the problem of PAEs pollution.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; China; Environmental Pollution; Esters; Phthalic Acids; Plasticizers
PubMed: 31814358
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.190177