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Phthalates
Published in Dongyou Liu, Handbook of Foodborne Diseases, 2018
Phthalates generally have low volatility, especially with increasing chain length.7 Phthalates can be divided into three categories based on the length of their ester side chain: low molecular weight, high molecular weight, and transitional or mid-molecular weight.8 Low molecular weight phthalates have short, straight side chains of three or less carbon atoms, while transitional phthalates can have side chains that are either straight or branched and contain four to six carbon atoms. The side chains of high molecular weight phthalates can have either a ring structure or a long, straight side chain with seven or more carbon atoms. Transitional phthalates with diester side chains in an ortho configuration on the benzene ring (like DEHP) appear to show the greatest toxic potential.9 The most commonly used phthalates are DEHP, butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and diethylphthalate (DEP)10; their properties are summarized in Table 109.1.
Indoor Air Pollution
Published in William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel, Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 4, 2017
William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel
These are used as plasticizers and found in several consumer items such as cosmetics, hair spray, plastic products, and wood finishes. Many IV bags and tubing in the healthcare setting are preformed from PVC plastic which relies on phthalates to be flexible. Vinyl wallpaper may also contain phthalates. We tested for metabolites (chemicals after the human body has digested them) of five phthalates: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BzBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which has three metabolites. Low-level exposures affect the development of reproductive organs,206 potentially causing adverse health effects in embryos, fetuses, and preterm babies. Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in products like furniture, computers, electronic medical equipment, and mattresses. There are three primary commercial formulations of PBDEs, based on the number of bromine atoms attached to the molecule (called congeners). Two of the common commercial formulations, penta- and octa-BDE (with five and eight bromines, respectively), have been voluntarily phased out of U.S. production. Deca-BDE continues to be produced. PBDEs are toxic at low levels and persistent in the environment. PBDEs are associated with learning, memory, behavior disorders,207 reproductive impairment, thyroid disruption, and cancer.208
Environmental Health
Published in Hilary McClafferty, Integrative Pediatrics, 2017
Main sources of phthalate exposure in pregnant women were found to be food, beverages, and drugs, personal products and exposures in the indoor environment. Infants’ top exposure was in the diet, and also from teethers and toys that were mouthed as well as through dermal contact with childcare articles. Toddlers’ exposures came primarily from food and beverages. Toddler exposures were the highest per body weight compared to infants and adults. In older children exposures were highest in food and beverages, and dust in the indoor environment. Many uncertainties remain regarding phthalate exposures, including safe tolerable limits, and possible cumulative and synergistic effects. Three types of phthalates, DBP, BBP, and DHEP, have been permanently banned in toys and childcare articles at levels over 0.1%. Several others are under interim ban pending further study, but have been shown to have antiandrogenic effects. Conclusive data for the safety of phthalate alternatives is lacking.
Sulforaphane Suppresses MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Growth via miR-19/PTEN Axis to Antagonize the Effect of Butyl Benzyl Phthalate
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2023
Wanshuang Cao, Xiaomin Lu, Caiyun Zhong, Jieshu Wu
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) is reportedly the most abundant phthalate compound, with a concentration of 3975 ng·m−3, accounting for 32.9% of PAEs in indoor air (14). Females are more likely than males to be exposed to phthalates due to the more widespread use of cosmetics (15). For instance, of the 47 cosmetic products analyzed, 85.1% of them had BBP levels that were higher than the declared threshold limits, with a mean value of 8.446 ppm and a maximum of 186.770 ppm (16). Due to the fact that it can cause the onset and progression of many malignancies, including breast cancer (11), BBP is classified as a probable and possible human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) (https://publications.iarc.fr/125). Especially, BBP induces the strongest estrogenic activity among various PAEs (17). Hsieh et al. (2012) (11) have shown that 1 μΜ BBP could promote the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation of breast cancer.
Simultaneous quantitative detection of 10 phthalates in PVC children’s toys by HPLC-PDA
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2020
Mohammed Akkbik, Vugar Ali Turksoy, Serhat Koçoğlu
Standard solutions of the individual phthalates: diethyl phthalate (DEP, 1000 mg L−1), diallyl phthalate (DAP, 1000 mg L−1), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, 100 mg L−1), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP, 1000 mg L−1), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP, 1000 mg L−1), dihexyl phthalate (DHP, 1000 mg L−1), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, 1000 mg L−1), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP, 100 mg L−1), diisononyl phthalate (DINP, 100 mg L−1) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP, 100 mg L−1) were diluted in methanol and purchased from AccuStandard (New Haven, CT, USA). Lichrosolv gradient grade of acetonitrile, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran were supplied by Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Reverse-osmosis ultrapure type quality water used was obtained from Millipore water purification system (DIRECT-Q 8UV, USA). All reagents were analytical grade. All reagents and water were checked for contamination with phthalates before use.
Analysis of phthalate esters in two different baby care products available in United Arab Emirates
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2019
Saba Farooqi, K. Rajendran, Razia Khanam
Phthalates or Phthalic acid diesters (PAEs) are the chemical plasticizers used in large numbers to increase flexibility, transparency, and durability of plastics in chemical industries. Chemically, these are the group of diesters of ortho-phthalic acid (dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid). The most widely used phthalates in consumer products are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP or BzBP). They are used extensively in different products like foodstuff, consumer products, medicines, aerosols, cosmetics, adhesives, textiles, solvents, household items, etc. It has been seen that the high molecular weight PAEs such as DEHP is primarily used as additives and plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, whereas low molecular weight PAEs such as DEP, DBP, and DMP are commonly employed to hold color and fragrance for a longer period and also to provide gloss or film in different personal care products (Schettler 2006; Cao 2010; Koniecki et al. 2011). They do not get attached to the plastic by making bonds; hence, they can wash out to the atmosphere upon exposure in due course of time (Hubinger and Havery 2006).