Occurrence, Fate, Behavior and Ecotoxicological State of Phthalates in Different Environmental Matrices

Abstract

Because of their large and widespread application, phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous in all the environmental compartements. They have been widely detected throughout the worldwide environment. Indoor air where people spend 65-90% of their time is also highly contaminated by various PAEs released from plastics, consumer products as well as ambient suspended particulate matter. Because of their widespread application, PAEs are the most common chemicals that humans are in contact with daily. Based on various exposure mechanisms, including the ingestion of food, drinking water, dust/soil, air inhalation and dermal exposure the daily intake of PAEs may reach values as high as 70 μg/kg/day. PAEs are involved in endocrine disrupting effects, namely, upon reproductive physiology in different species of fish and mammals. They also present a variety of additional toxic effects for many other species including terrestrial and aquatic fauna and flora. Therefore, their presence in the environment has attracted considerable attention due to their potential impacts on ecosystem functioning and on public health. This paper is a synthesis of the extensive literature data on behavior, transport, fate and ecotoxicological state of PAEs in environmental matrices: air, water, sediment, sludge, wastewater, soil, and biota. First, the origins and physicochemical properties of PAEs that control the behavior, transport and fate in the environment are reviewed. Second, the compilation of data on transport and fate, adverse environmental and human health effects, legislation, restrictions, and ecotoxicological state of the environment based on PAEs is presented.

An unusual strategy for the anoxic biodegradation of phthalate

“…Most commonly they are incorporated into high-molecular weight polymers such as polyvinyl chloride but are also found in other consumer products (Latini, 2005). The annual PAE production is in the range of 5-8 million tons (Mackintosh et al, 2006;Net et al, 2015). Several studies of potential adverse health effects of PAE suggest an endocrinedisrupting activity (Caldwell, 2012).…”

Research progress of phthalates' endocrine disrupting properties on humans and their usage in the consumer products

“…The usages of various PAEs depend in part on their molecular weight (MW) and length of their alkyl chains [3,16]. PAEs with higher MW and longer longer alkyl chains such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) are used as plasticizers in the polymer industry to improve flexibility, workability, and general handling properties for use in construction material, clothing and furnishings, and 80% of PAEs are used for this purpose.…”

“…PAEs with relatively lower MW and shorter alkyl chains such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) tend to be used as solvents in perfumes, adhesives, waxes, inks, pharmaceutical products, insecticide materials, and cosmetics [3,16]. DMP and DEP allow perfume fragrances to evaporate more slowly, lengthening the duration of the scent, and a small amount of DBP gives nail polish a chip-resistant property.…”

“…Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a class of compounds widely used as plasticizers to provide mechanical strength and flexibility to the resins [1] and they are ingredients of plastics, paints, adhesives, toys, house-building materials, solubilizers of cosmetic products, defoaming agents, PVC pipes, food packing materials, medical devices, photography films, textile fabrics, pesticide carriers, lubricating oils and are used in aerospace technology [2]. In addition, some of PAEs also have endocrine disrupting properties [3] and considered one of the most major occurring endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) . EDCs are exogenous agents that interfere or disrupt the normal synthesis, secretion, transportation, binding and metabolism of natural hormones; eventually dysregulating homeostatic mecha-nisms, reproduction and development [4].…”

Comparative assessment of phthalate removal and risk in biological wastewater treatment systems of developing countries and small communities

“…Their presence is involved in changes in reproductive physiology of different fishes and mammals (Net et al, 2015). The risk of phthalates is represented generally by exposure values and risk quotient which in turn depends on removal efficiency of treatment systems also (Selvaraj et al, 2014;Matamoros et al, 2016).…”