Aquatic toxicity of eighteen phthalate esters

Abstract

The extensive database of acute and chronic aquatic toxicity data for 18 phthalate esters was reviewed and summarized for freshwater and saltwater aquatic microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, and fish. Phthalate esters have been tested with six species of microorganisms, including bacteria and protozoans. Fifteen algal species have been tested, including green and bluegreen algae in both freshwater and saltwater. Nineteen freshwater and saltwater invertebrate species inhabiting surface waters and sediments and 21 freshwater and saltwater fish inhabiting cold and warm water bodies have been tested. The results of most studies indicate that acute and chronic toxicity to microorganisms, algae, aquatic invertebrates, and fish are limited to the lower molecular weight phthalate esters (i.e., dimethyl‐, diethyl‐, diallyl‐, dipropyl‐, dibutyl‐, diisobutyl‐, and butylbenzylphthalate). In contrast, higher molecular weight phthalate esters are not acutely or chronically toxic to aquatic organisms. Although conflicting data on chronic effects for high molecular weight phthalate esters have been reported for daphnids, these inconsistencies are attributed to physical effects imposed on daphnids when exposed to test concentrations in excess of true water solubilities. Altogether, nearly 400 test results covering more than 60 species of microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, and fish are reported for both freshwater and saltwater aquatic species. While most investigators used several common species and standard protocols to assay conventional endpoints, many nontraditional species and toxicological endpoints were also used. This has created a toxicological database of both sufficient depth to compare many similar tests and sufficient breadth to encompass virtually all important types of aquatic habitats and classes of aquatic species.

Biodegradation of Dimethyl Phthalate by Freshwater Unicellular Cyanobacteria

“…Phthalic acid esters are endocrine-disrupting compounds, which have been shown to reduce the diversity of microbial communities and decline crop quality [31], and are toxic to most aquatic organisms including algae [32]. Higher concentration of DMP inhibits the growth rate, while lower concentration can induce the growth of Cyanobacteria or algae [33, 34].…”

Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and plasticisers in the Selangor River basin and possible pollution sources

“…PAEs especially the lower molecular weight di-methyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) are toxic to aquatic life at concentrations below their aqueous solubilities (Staples et al 1997;Zhou et al 2011). In animal studies, several phthalates and/or its metabolites are shown to disrupt the reproductive functions and are developmental toxicants (Foster 2006;Hotchkiss et al 2010;Howdeshell et al 2008;Mylchreest et al 1999).…”

Photodegradation Pathways of Typical Phthalic Acid Esters Under UV, UV/TiO2, and UV-Vis/Bi2WO6 Systems

“…They are absorbed readily through the skin and the digestive tract and are then distributed to most tissues, even the placenta, as mentioned above. It has been reported that PAEs with alkyl chain lengths of <6 have intrinsic toxicity to aquatic organisms (Staples et al, 1997). All of the research and studies into the distribution and toxicity reminds us to pay more attention to the removal and degradation of these typical, widely used PAEs.…”