Comprehensive review of phthalate exposure: Health implications, biomarker detection and regulatory standards

Md Mehedi Hasan; Rahima Tanbin Tama; Humayra Afroz Dona; Naeema Salatia Hoque; Md Ashikur Rahaman; Md Ashraful Alam

doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106671

Comprehensive review of phthalate exposure: Health implications, biomarker detection and regulatory standards

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2024 Dec 31:247:106671. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106671. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Md Mehedi Hasan¹, Rahima Tanbin Tama², Humayra Afroz Dona³, Naeema Salatia Hoque⁴, Md Ashikur Rahaman⁵, Md Ashraful Alam⁶

Affiliations

¹ Bangladesh Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements (BRiCM), Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh. Electronic address: mehedi@bricm.gov.bd.
² Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh. Electronic address: tanbintama.btge@std.iu.ac.bd.
³ Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh.
⁶ Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; Institute of Glass and Ceramic Research and Testing (IGCRT), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.

PMID: 39746525
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106671

Abstract

Phthalates are a wide family of chemicals that are used in many different industrial applications used in many different industrial applications, including the production of plastics, toys, food packaging particularly for kids, and medical equipment. Due to their various chemical and physical properties, phthalates may negatively impact humans, animals, and the environment. Thus the potential for phthalate exposure and harm to humans, animals, and the environment is high because its presence is alarming. Phthalates can be ingested, inhaled, absorbed topically, or via iatrogenic exposure in animals and humans. This article aimed to ascertain the modes of exposure, fate and detection techniques, and harmful effects of phthalates on humans, animals, and the environment. This review also shows that the intake of phthalate above the established daily limit from sources such as food, toys, and air causes serious harm, including impaired immune function, difficulties in pregnancy, loss of reproduction, and damage to the kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain in humans. Children and pregnant women are the most impacted groups and phthalates also negatively affect the environment and wildlife. A few methods to determine phthalate exposure, such as the LC and the HPLC-MS/MS methods, which employ human fluid or dust air as a biomarker, are also addressed here. Consequently, this comprehensive review aims to provide a detailed analysis of the existing evidence regarding explicit links between exposure to phthalates and subsequent health outcomes that may be directly related to this exposure. Additionally, we reviewed the developed and validated analytical methods and supplemented the literature with partial biomonitoring data on their metabolites.

Keywords: Biomarker; Exposure route; Health and environmental effects; LCMS; Phthalates.

Publication types

Review