Andrological causes of recurrent implantation failure
Efstratios M. Kolibianakis, Christos A. Venetis in Recurrent Implantation Failure, 2019
Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers, substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, and longevity. They are used in many consumer products, such as building materials, toys, food packaging, cosmetics, and medical devices. A review of studies on laboratory animals confirmed that phthalates cause diminished sperm count, increase the frequency of abnormal sperm, and damage DNA in germ cells, especially after chronic exposure and in cases of exposure of immature animals (both during gestation and post-term). Phthalates may also induce mutations in male gametes, leading to increased pre- and postnatal mortality of the offspring. Interestingly, phthalates have been associated with diminished quality of semen in the F1 generation,76 while in males, but not in females, urinary concentrations of selected metabolites of phthalates and phthalate alternatives are associated with poor blastocyst quality.77
Organic Chemicals
William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel in Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 4, 2017
The production of phthalates is ∼400 million lb/year. Phthalates are plasticizers and are added to plastic products in significant quantities, usually to keep the plastics soft. As much as half the mass of a PVC container can be phthalates.338 Another large part of plastic is organophosphates similar to these found in organophosphate pesticide. Plastic containers are widely used in industry and consumer products, and phthalates can leach from the PVC walls of containers and contaminate the fluid contents. Studies by Kalin and Brooks339 and our work at the EHC-Dallas have shown that the chemically sensitive may be made ill by this leaching. Specific phthalic esters with short alkyl groups, such as dimethyl and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), are appreciably soluble in water. Most other dialkyl phthalates, including di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are selectively soluble in aqueous medium because of their lipophilic structures. Volatiles are said to be generally of low standard temperature and pressure for the long-chain and branched compounds such as DEHP. Many edible oils are stored in these containers and will absorb the phthalates.
Phthalates
Dongyou Liu in Handbook of Foodborne Diseases, 2018
Exposure to environmental toxins is widespread from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the goods we purchase, to even possibly the wireless signals that surround us. One group of such toxins, and the focus of this chapter, is phthalates. Phthalates are found in a wide variety of plastic products, with their primary function being to give flexibility to brittle plastics. Phthalates are also found in everyday products including adhesives, building materials (e.g., vinyl flooring), medical devices, children's toys, paints, pharmaceuticals, and food products.1,2 Personal-care items (e.g., perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray) also all contain significant amounts of phthalates and phthalate-related compounds.3 Although exposure to phthalates may be at a low level, it is continuous, chronic, and seemingly unavoidable.
Breast cancer and environmental contamination: A real connection?
Published in Cogent Medicine, 2018
Fernando Delgado-López, S. Pilar Zamora-León
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make polyvinyl chloride flexible and stable. They are found in different household items, medical devices, dentistry, vinyl flooring, automobiles, detergents, adhesives, insecticides, and toys. Phthalates are also used in personal care products, because they increment spreadability. Foods can be contaminated with phthalates by processing or packaging, and when food is heated in plastic containers in the microwave, they can be released into aqueous solution (Table 1). Milk, medications and nutritional supplements, and ground and drinking water can contain phthalates. These chemicals can also be absorbed through the skin or breathed in from house dust or fumes (Breast Cancer & the Environment Research Centers, 2007; Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).
Does the environment affect menopause? A review of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on menopause
Published in Climacteric, 2023
Although rapidly metabolized and excreted, phthalates are ubiquitous in our environment and humans are continually exposed throughout life [12]. Phthalates are commonly used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics; however they are not chemically bound to PVCs, and therefore easily leach out of plastics and into surrounding air, food or other materials [13]. Phthalates can be found in building materials, furniture, clothing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, dentures, children’s toys, food packaging, automobiles, cleaning materials and insecticides [13]. Low molecular weight phthalates tend to be used in cosmetics and can be dermally absorbed, while high molecular weight phthalates are used to make plastics flexible [13]. There are numerous phthalates in use; di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is one of the older and therefore best-studied compounds, while less is known about the newer compounds such as 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid di-isononyl ester (DINCH), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHTP) [14]. Of the EDCs, the phthalate class has been most studied in its relationship with menopause.
Serum levels of phthalates and bisphenol-A in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency
Published in Gynecological Endocrinology, 2019
Şule Özel, Aytekin Tokmak, Osman Aykut, Ayla Aktulay, Necati Hançerlioğulları, Yaprak Engin Ustun
Premature menopause is of concern because it is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and premature death [15]. Similarly, exposure to phthalates is a public health concern because some of them have been identified as reproductive and developmental toxicants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Additionally, today’s women usually postpone the childbirth to prioritize career development during their early reproductive years. This leads to a longer period of exposure to phthalates, potentially leading to detrimental effects on fertility, especially when the female is aging. There are quite limited human studies evaluating the association between serum phthalate metabolites and BPA in menopausal status, and even as far as we know this is the first study evaluating this linkage in POI patients.
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