Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence and Toxicity of Phthalates in Different Microenvironments

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
New Frontiers in Environmental Toxicology

Abstract

Phthalates are a broader group of chemicals with a variety of industrial uses, from the plastic manufacturer to food products, medical equipment, toys of children, cosmetics, etc. Phthalates are overused by several industries disregarding the growing concern on the toxic nature of numerous phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DnBP, DiBP) due to their low cost, attractive features and lack of other suitable options. Due to their repetitive usage in several products, they are released from various industrial sites and contaminate the environment. Humans are generally exposed to phthalates through several pathways including ingestion, inhalation and dermal causing developmental and reproductive toxicity. Therefore, concern has been grown over its safety and its potential toxic impacts on human health. This chapter discusses the toxic effects of phthalates in numerous microenvironments including air, water and soil and human health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

BzBP:

Benzylbutyl phthalate

DMP:

Dimethyl phthalate

DnBP:

Di-n-butyl phthalate

DEP:

Diethyl phthalate

DEHP:

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate

DnOP:

Di-isononyl phthalate

BBP:

Benzyl butyl phthalate

References

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2005). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on a request from EFSA related to a harmonised approach for risk assessment of substances which are both genotoxic and carcinogenic. EFSA Journal, 3(10), 282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heudorf, U., Mersch-Sundermann, V. and Angerer, J., 2007. Phthalates: toxicology and exposure. International journal of hygiene and environmental health, 210(5), pp.623–634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imran, M. A., Tong, Y., Hu, Q., Liu, M., & Chen, H. (2020). Effects of persulfate activation with pyrite and zero-valent iron for phthalate acid ester degradation. Water, 12(2), 354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H., Nam, K., Oh, S., Son, S., Jeon, D., Gye, M.C. and Shin, I., 2019. Toxicological assessment of phthalates and their alternatives using human keratinocytes. Environmental research, 175, pp.316–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Högberg, J., Hanberg, A., Berglund, M., Skerfving, S., Remberger, M., Calafat, A.M., Filipsson, A.F., Jansson, B., Johansson, N., Appelgren, M. and HÃ¥kansson, H., 2008. Phthalate diesters and their metabolites in human breast milk, blood or serum, and urine as biomarkers of exposure in vulnerable populations. Environmental health perspectives, 116(3), pp.334–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mankidy, R., Wiseman, S., Ma, H. and Giesy, J.P., 2013. Biological impact of phthalates. Toxicology letters, 217(1), pp.50–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, H.M., Preuss, R. and Angerer, J.D., 2006. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): human metabolism and internal exposure–an update and latest results 1. International journal of andrology, 29(1), pp.155–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, JM, et al., 2013. Phthalate exposure and children’s health; Curr. Opin. Pediatr. 25, 247–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, T.H., Tsai, C.F., Hsu, C.Y., Kuo, P.L., Hsi, E., Suen, J.L., Hung, C.H., Lee, J.N., Chai, C.Y., Wang, S.C. and Tsai, E.M., 2012. n-Butyl benzyl phthalate promotes breast cancer progression by inducing expression of lymphoid enhancer factor 1. PloS one, 7(8), p.e42750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, C., Gao, L. and Flaws, J.A., 2017. Exposure to an environmentally relevant phthalate mixture causes transgenerational effects on female reproduction in mice. Endocrinology, 158(6), pp.1739–1754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowdhwal, S.S.S. and Chen, J., 2018. Toxic effects of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate: an overview. BioMed research international, 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pak, V.M., McCauley, L.A. and Pinto-Martin, J., 2011. Phthalate exposures and human health concerns: A review and implications for practice. AAOHN journal, 59(5), pp.228–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, K.M., Rudel, R.A. and Just, A.C., 2014. Phthalates in food packaging, consumer products, and indoor environments. In Toxicants in food packaging and household plastics (pp.31–59). Springer, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suresh, A. and Jindal, T., 2020. Phthalate Toxicity.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latini, G., 2005. Monitoring phthalate exposure in humans. Clinica Chimica Acta, 361(1–2), pp.20–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ventrice, P., Ventrice, D., Russo, E. and De Sarro, G., 2013. Phthalates: European regulation, chemistry, pharmacokinetic and related toxicity. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology, 36(1), pp.88–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schettler, T.E.D., 2006. Human exposure to phthalates via consumer products. International journal of andrology, 29(1), pp.134–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyche, J.L., Gutleb, A.C., Bergman, Ã…., Eriksen, G.S., Murk, A.J., Ropstad, E., Saunders, M. and Skaare, J.U., 2009. Reproductive and developmental toxicity of phthalates. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 12(4), pp.225–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Shi, J., Bo, T., Zhang, H., Wu, W., Chen, Q. and Zhan, X., 2014. Occurrence of phthalic acid esters in source waters: a nationwide survey in China during the period of 2009–2012. Environmental pollution, 184, pp.262–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Saleh, I., Shinwari, N. and Alsabbaheen, A., 2011. Phthalates residues in plastic bottled waters. The Journal of toxicological sciences, 36(4), pp.469–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koo, H.J. and Lee, B.M., 2004. Estimated exposure to phthalates in cosmetics and risk assessment. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 67(23–24), pp.1901–1914.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, L., Gielen, G., Bolan, N.S., Zhang, X., Qin, H., Huang, H. and Wang, H., 2015. Contamination and remediation of phthalic acid esters in agricultural soils in China: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 35(2), pp.519–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudel, R. A., Camann, D. E., Spengler, J. D., Korn, L. R., & Brody, J. G. (2003). Phthalates, alkylphenols, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and other endocrine-disrupting compounds in indoor air and dust. Environmental Science & Technology, 37(20), 4543–4553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, K. and Wright, R.O., 2006. Phthalates in food and medical devices. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 2(3), pp.126–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niu, L., Xu, Y., Xu, C., Yun, L. and Liu, W., 2014. Status of phthalate esters contamination in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks. Environmental Pollution, 195, pp.16–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvaraj, K.K., Sundaramoorthy, G., Ravichandran, P.K., Girijan, G.K., Sampath, S. and Ramaswamy, B.R., 2015. Phthalate esters in water and sediments of the Kaveri River, India: environmental levels and ecotoxicological evaluations. Environmental geochemistry and health, 37(1), pp.83–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrano, S.E., Braun, J., Trasande, L., Dills, R. and Sathyanarayana, S., 2014. Phthalates and diet: a review of the food monitoring and epidemiology data. Environmental Health, 13(1), p.43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariana, M., Feiteiro, J., Verde, I. and Cairrao, E., 2016. The effects of phthalates in the cardiovascular and reproductive systems: a review. Environment international, 94, pp.758–776.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, T.L., Wang, P.W., Aljuffali, I.A., Hung, Y.Y., Lin, C.F. and Fang, J.Y., 2014. Dermal toxicity elicited by phthalates: evaluation of skin absorption, immunohistology, and functional proteomics. Food and chemical toxicology, 65, pp.105–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cil, K.T.P.A.B. and Akçay, A.F.E., 2020. Companion animals get close to the toxic aspects of antropogenic world: cytotoxicity of phthalates and bisphenol A on dog testicular primary cells.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suresh, A., Jindal, T. and Khan, S.A., 2019. An Integrated Approach for Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination Using Lysimetric Studies. Pollution Research, 38(2), pp.491–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Chen, K., Qiu, X., Xu, H., Mao, G., Zhao, T., Feng, W., Okeke, E.S., Wu, X. and Yang, L., 2020. The reproductive toxicity and potential mechanisms of combined exposure to dibutyl phthalate and diisobutyl phthalate in male zebrafish (Danio rerio). Chemosphere, p.127238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suresh, A. and Jindal, T., 2019. Lysimetric Studies to Estimate the Solute and Contaminant Transport in Hydrogeological Profile. Ecology, Environment and Conservation, 25, pp.S102–S105.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety and Management, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Arjun Suresh & Tanu Jindal

Authors
  1. Arjun Suresh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tanu Jindal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arjun Suresh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Tanu Jindal

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Suresh, A., Jindal, T. (2022). Occurrence and Toxicity of Phthalates in Different Microenvironments. In: Jindal, T. (eds) New Frontiers in Environmental Toxicology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72173-2_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation