Phthalates, often known as plasticizers, are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are widely used in cosmetics, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, and plastic clothes. People are exposed to phthalates by eating or drinking contaminated foods but also by breathing in air that contains phthalate vapors or dusts. Inhaling phthalates can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Phthalates have been classified as endocrine disruptors which may cause reproductive damage, depressed leukocyte function, and even cancer. Phthalate exposure has also been associated with diabetes and insulin resistance, breast cancer, obesity, metabolic disorders, and immune disorders. Phthalate exposure and adverse child neurodevelopment, including the development of ADHD and autistic behaviors and lower cognitive and motor development, has also been reported.
Sources of Exposure:
Used in the manufacture of plastics to soften resins and impart flexibility.
Most widely used plasticizers for the manufacture of polybinyl chloride (PVC) plastics utilized in vinyl flooring and tile, wall covering, pool liners, tool handles, insulation of wires and cables, garden hoses, construction materials, weather-stripping, canvas tarps, upholstery, some food wrappers and containers, medical equipment containing flexible plastics such as blood bags and tubing, haemodialysis, children’s toys, dishwasher baskets, notebook covers, flea collars, faux leather, shoe soles, traffic cones, latex adhesives, dyes, some pharmaceutical and pesticide formulations.
Detergents, lubricating oils, automobile parts, automobile undercoating, carpet backing, solvents, and personal-care products such as soaps, shampoo, hair spray, nail polish, and toothbrushes, baby-care products.
Diethyl Phlthalate (parent compound of MEP) reported in over 70% of cosmetic products tested. Make fragrance in cosmetics and household products last longer.
Occupational Exposure: Plasticizer and PVC processing plants.
*Quinolinate - Phthalate esters perturb tryptophan metabolism resulting in the accumulationof quinolinic acid, an endogenous excitotoxin implicated in inflammatory neurological disorders.
*Quinolinate is a metabolite of the essential amino acid tryptophan in the kynurenine pathway. This pathway is chiefly activated by IFN - gamma and IFN - alpha. Quinolinate is markedly elevated in the CNS following trauma or inflammation, and is implicated in neuronal injury through activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor.
Toxicity of phlthalate esters, acting as metabolic disrupters, through accumulation of quinolinic acid, may be of concern with a tryptophan - rich diet and concomitant exposure to phthalate esters.
Effects:
- Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical (EDC).
- Young infants may be more vulnerable to toxic effects. May alter development of male reproductive system.
- Developmental and morphological abnormalities including deficits in behavior and cognition.
- Some reports of decreased sperm production in adult males exposed to environmental levels.
- Associated with increased waist circumference and insulin resistance in adults.
Metabolism:
Phthalates are hydrolyzed in the gut by pancreatic lipase yielding ester derivatives, which are rapidly absorbed. These phthalate esters are metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P-450 dependent multifunction oxidase enzymes, into glucuronide conjugates and excreted in the urine.
Monoethylphthalate, MEP, in urine reflects exposure to diethylphthalate (DEP). About 70% is excreted in urine as its free monoester.
DEHP and phthalates in general is noted by urinary levels of free phthalic acid, a further breakdown product of phthalates.
Phthalates and their metabolites accumulate in lipid depots. Bioaccumulation may result from chronic exposure.
Phthalate
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