Phthalates and their effects on human health: Focus on erythrocytes and the reproductive system

Abstract

Plastics, long-chain artificial polymers, are used worldwide with a global production of 350 million tonnes per year. Various degradation processes transform plastics into smaller fragments divided into micro, meso and macroplastics. In various industries, such as construction, certain plastic additives are used to improve flexibility and enhance performance. Plastic additives include phthalates (PAE), dibutyl phthalate (DPB) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Due to the use of plastics and plastic additives, these small fragments of different shapes and colours are present in all environmental compartments. For their characteristics, PAEs can be introduced particularly by ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption. They can accumulate in the human body, where they have already been identified in blood, amniotic fluid and urine. The purpose of this review is to gather the effects that these plastic additives have on various systems in the human body. Being endocrine disruptors, the effects they have on erythrocytes and how they can be considered targets for xenobiotics have been analysed. The influence on the reproductive system was also examined. Phthalates are therefore often overused. Due to their properties, they can reach human tissues and have a negative impact on health. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the presence of phthalates and their hazards. Therefore, the use of these plastic additives should be reduced, replaced and their disposal improved.

Keywords: Endocrine disruptors; Human health; Plastic additives; Reproductive toxicity; Target cells.