Phthalates Factsheet | National Biomonitoring Program | CDC
Phthalates Factsheet. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used to help dissolve other materials. Phthalates are in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays).
The role of endocrine-disrupting phthalates and
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that include polychorinated phenyls, phthalates, and bisphenols, interfere with naturally occurring hormones, the activity of nuclear and steroid hormone receptors, and disrupt normal metabolism.
Plasticizer Exposure and Reproductive Health: Phthalates and
As the environmental endocrine disruptor, phthalates can interfere with hormone synthesis, secretion, binding, and metabolism and have antiandrogenic and estrogen-like activities. Phthalates are also a class of harmful substances with teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and reproductive toxicity.
Molecular Toxicity Mechanism of Plasticizers in the Reservoir
When plasticizers are released into the reservoir, they remain persistent and interact with various aquatic organisms. Plasticizers mainly include phthalates (PAEs) and Bisphenol A (BPA). When exposed to aquatic species, plasticizers can disrupt the thyroid axis, estrogen axis, and various developmental and growth effects.
Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates’ Action on Reproductive
7.1. Phthalates’ Effect on Signaling Pathways of Peptide Hormones. Phthalates can affect the HPG axis and steroidogenesis through interaction with genes for GPCRs—receptors for GnRH on pituitary cells, receptors for FSH and LH on Leydig cells, ovarian cells—granulosa and thecal cells.
- Are endocrine disruptors associated with bisphenol A and phthalate exposure?
- Epidemiological studies show strong evidence of endocrine disruption associated with bisphenol A and phthalate exposure. Health policies and biomonitoring should guarantee human health protection from endocrine disruptor exposure. 1. Introduction
- Are BPA and phthalate exposures underestimated?
- Since both BPA and phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment and humans are chronically exposed through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption from the skin, it has been suggested that levels of exposure to these EDC may be underestimated in the population.
- Are BPA and phthalates harmful to human reproductive health?
- Although some studies have shown inconsistencies in their results due to study limitations such as sample size ( Pallotti et al., 2020 ), the findings shown below indicate that BPA and phthalates are harmful to human reproductive health.
- What are BPA and phthalates in plastic?
- BPA and phthalates are commonly found in plastics like polycarbonate (used in water bottles) and PVC (used in pipes, vinyl flooring, and more). Many plastics contain additives and chemicals like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), flame retardants, and heavy metals that can leach into the environment and contaminate soil and water.
- Are phthalate plasticizers bad for Reproductive Health?
- Articles from International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health are provided here courtesy of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) The production of plastic products, which requires phthalate plasticizers, has resulted in the problems for human health, especially that of reproductive health.
- Why are BPA and phthalates studies important?
- These studies provide public health agencies, mainly in developed countries, information to develop and direct actions that monitor human exposure to BPA and phthalates. As a result, vital information is produced and used in models to estimate the social and economic costs attributable to exposure to these compounds.