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Maternal exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) may result in obesity in female offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with different doses of DBP and corn oil from gestational day 7 until the end of lactation. The weights, visceral fat percentage, serum lipid, insulin and glucose, protein levels of PI3K signal pathway in muscle were detected in F1 female offspring.Although the birth weight of F1 female offspring was not different among groups, the weights were heavier in DBP groups from postnatal day 7 to adult (P 0.001). The visceral adipose percentage in adult female offspring was increased by perinatal exposure to DBP (P 0.001). Decreased serum level of triglyceride (P = 0.001) in F1 female offspring was found in DBP group as compared to control, especially in medium and high DBP. However, none difference was found for fasting glucose, prolactin, HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, adiponectin. Different protein levels of GPR30 were observed in muscle of female offspring among four groups (P = 0.016). The protein level of AKT seemed higher in DBP group but without statistical significance (P = 0.05). None difference was observed for the protein levels of PI3K, p-AKT, pAKT/AKT, PTEN, GLUT4, InsR, IRS.Maternal perinatal exposure to DBP might induce obesity and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue for the adult female offspring. Serum glucolipid and local signal transduction of PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in muscle were not adversely affected by perinatal exposure to DBP for adult female offspring.

Unfortunately, humanity is exposed to mixed plasticizers such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are leached from the daily used plastic products. Previous studies have demonstrated their potential in pancreatic beta cell injury and diabetes induction. The study hypothesized that both compounds would affect the pancreatic alpha cells in albino rats when administered at environmentally relevant doses. Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and caspase-3 protein expression was also investigated as potential mechanisms. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were separated into four equal groups: control, BPA alone, DBP alone, and BPA + DBP combined groups. BPA and DBP were given in drinking water for 45 days in a dose of 4.5 and 0.8 µg/L, respectively. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, pancreatic tissue levels of malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase were measured. Pancreatic sections were subjected to hematoxylineosin (HE) staining, glucagon, HSP60, and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. Although all three experimental groups showed diffuse islet cell HSP60 immunoreactivity, rats exposed to BPA alone showed α-cell-only apoptosis, indicated by HE changes and caspase-3 immunoreactivity, associated with reduced glucagon immunoreaction. However, rats exposed to DBP alone showed no changes in either α or β-cells. Both combined-exposed animals displayed α and β apoptotic changes associated with islet atrophy and reduced glucagon expression. In conclusion, the study suggested HSP60/caspase-3 interaction, caspase-3 activation, and initiation of apoptosis in α-cell only for BPA-alone exposure group, meanwhile DBP alone did not progress to apoptosis. Interestingly, both α/β cell effect was observed in the mixed group implying synergetic/additive action of both chemicals when combined.

Many industrial chemicals have been reported as antiandrogenic substances. Exposure to these substances represents a potential risk to human health, particularly to the development of reproductive organs such as embryonic external genitalia (eExG). Currently, there is a need for more assay systems that can elucidate the toxicological actions and mechanisms of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In this study, we show that the eExG slice culture assay is useful for the evaluation of the differing modes of action of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on urethra formation. We assessed the possible endocrine-disrupting activity of 3 chemicals with reported antiandrogenic function, diazinon, dibutyl phthalate, and fenitrothion (FNT) on eExG slices. Exposure to FNT, but not diazinon and dibutyl phthalate, induced defects of androgen-induced urethral masculinization and reduced expression of the androgen-target gene Mafb. Live imaging analyses showed that FNT treatment inhibited androgen-dependent MAFB induction within 12 h. Furthermore, FNT-treated tissue slices showed reduced expression of the androgen receptor. These results indicate that FNT disrupts androgen signaling by reduction of androgen receptor expression during androgen-induced eExG masculinization. This study thus highlights the importance of animal models, which allow for the effective assessment of tissue-specific endocrine-disrupting activity to further reveal the etiology of chemical-induced congenital anomalies.

Microplastics (MPs) are a widely distributed pollutant and have been attracting global attention. The increasing abundance of MPs in marine environments has raised concern about their adverse effects on marine organisms and influence on the fate of contaminants in seawater. In this study, we investigated the effects of natural aging on the adsorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the most widely used phthalic acid esters (PAEs), in two types of MPs (polyethylene and polystyrene). Biofilm was observed on the surface of MPs after 3-month exposure in seawater. Atomic force microscopy revealed there were significant physical changes in the MPs after aging. Aging in coastal seawater for 3 months significantly reduced the MPs' surface roughness and adhesion, and increased the Young's modulus at the same time. Adsorption isotherms of DEHP indicated that aged MPs had stronger binding capacity of the organic contaminant than pristine MPs. Our data shed some light on the biogeochemical role of MPs in marine environments.

To assess if the unprecedented changes in lifestyle because of the lockdown initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered human behavior, and influenced purchase and consumption patterns, may have had an impact on the exposure to phthalates in Indian women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). To evaluate if the effects of the strict and lengthy lockdown in India, which promoted the new norms of stay-at-home and work-from-home, closure of beauty parlors, and restriction on public gatherings, may have contributed to a decrease in the exposure to phthalates like dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate. These chemicals are found in many personal care products (PCPs) which include cosmetics and fragrances. To investigate if the extensive use of flexible single-use plastic in personal protective equipment like face masks/gloves and in plastic packaging used for online purchases, food takeaways, and home deliveries of essentials and groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic, in an attempt to provide a contact-free delivery system may have inadvertently led to an increase in exposure to phthalates like di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-isononyl phthalate, and di-isodecyl phthalate which are plasticizers used in manufacturing flexible plastic.A comparative study of the levels of six phthalate metabolites detected in follicular fluid (FF) of Indian women undergoing IVF/ICSI 1 year before and immediately after the lockdown initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic.In vitro fertilization center in a large referral hospital in India.A total of 176 Indian women seeking treatment for infertility and undergoing oocyte retrieval were included after obtaining consent. Each woman contributed one FF sample to the study. Group A (n = 96) women (mean age, 34.0 [±3.9] years, and mean BMI, 25.4 [±4.8]) had their FF samples collected and screened between January 2019 and mid-March 2020, 1 year before the lockdown. Group B (n = 80) women (mean age, 33.9 [±4.1] years, and mean BMI, 25.0 [±4.4]) had their FF collected and screened post the lockdown between October 2020 and June 2021. Both groups were matched by age and BMI.The cryopreserved FF samples of 176 women were processed using enzymatic deconjugation as well as the solid-phase extraction technique, and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect the total levels of six phthalate metabolites.To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the change in the phthalate metabolite levels in the FF of Indian women undergoing IVF/ICSI pre and post the lockdown.The median levels of mono-n-butyl phthalate (1.64 ng/ml in group A vs. 0.93 ng/ml in group B; P.001) and mono-ethyl phthalate (5.25 ng/ml in group A vs. 3.24 ng/ml in group B; P.001) metabolites of dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate found in PCPs including cosmetics and fragrances were significantly higher in the FF of 96 women (group A) compared with the levels seen in the FF of 80 women (group B). However, the median levels of mono-isononyl phthalate (0.11ng/ml in group A vs. 0.13 ng/ml in group B; P.001), mono-isodecyl phthalate (0.11 ng/ml in group A vs. 0.14 ng/ml in group B; P.001), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (0.13 ng/ml in group A vs. 0.14 ng/ml in group B; P=.023) metabolites of di-isononyl phthalate, di-isodecyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate used as plasticizers were significantly higher in the FF of women in group B compared with women in group A.The significant drop in mono-n-butyl phthalate and mono-ethyl phthalate levels, accumulated in the FF of 80 Indian women in group B reflects a decrease or absence of usage patterns of PCPs, including cosmetics and fragrances, thereby suggesting that these women may have deprioritized their use during the COVID-19 pandemic giving preference to personal hygiene and safety. Whereas the unprecedented increase in the use of flexible single-use plastic that became our first line of defense against the coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic might be responsible for the accumulation of significantly higher levels of mono-isononyl phthalate, mono-isodecyl phthalate, and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate in FF of the same group.

To comprehensively understand the toxic risks of phthalates to aquatic ecosystems, we examined the acute toxicity of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP) on multiple trophic models, including algae (Chlorella vulgaris), Daphnia magna and fish (Danio rerio, Pseudorasbora parva). Thus, a 15-day zebrafish exposure was conducted to trace the dynamic changes of phthalate-induced toxic effects. Among the four species, D. magna exhibited the strongest sensitivity to both DEHP and DBP, followed by D. rerio and P. parva. C. vulgaris exhibited the lowest sensitivity to phthalates. The sub-chronic zebrafish assay demonstrated that 1000 μg/L DBP induced significant mortality at 15 days post-exposure (dpe), and DEHP exhibited no lethality at the tested concentrations (10-5000 μg/L). Zebrafish hepatic SOD activity and sod transcription levels were inhibited by DBP from 3 dpe, which was accompanied by increased malondialdehyde level, while zebrafish exposed to DEHP exhibited less oxidative damage. Both DEHP and DBP induced time-dependent alterations on Ache activity in zebrafish brains, thus indicating the potential neurotoxicity toward aquatic organisms. Additionally, 1000 μg/L and higher concentration of DBP caused hepatic DNA damage in zebrafish from 7 dpe. These results provide a better understanding of the health risks of phthalate to water environment.

Diet is an important exposure route for phthalates, such as di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP). In this study, we aimed to estimate phthalate exposure in the diet of pregnant women and assess the health risk. A total of 517 pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited, and food frequency questionnaires were collected. A simple distribution assessment method was used to estimate daily exposure, and the hazard index (HI) method was used to assess cumulative risk. The maximum daily dietary exposure to DEHP, DBP, DiBP, and BBP was 5.25, 3.17, 2.59, and 0.58 μg/kg bw/day, respectively, and did not exceed the safety limit values. Cereals and vegetables were the main sources of the estimated daily intake (EDI) of phthalates in the diet. The cumulative risk assessment, based on the European Food Safety Authority tolerable daily intake (TDI) and the US Environmental Protection Agency reference dose (RfD), did not exceed the threshold of 1. DiBP, DBP, and DEHP had higher hazard quotient (HQ) values for cumulative health risk than BBP. In conclusion, a low health risk was posed by the cumulative dietary exposure to phthalates for pregnant women in Beijing.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a phthalic acid ester (PAE) that has posed a health hazard to the organisms. Naringenin (NRG) is a flavanone compound that has shown protection against several environmental chemicals through suppression of oxidative stress and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/threonine kinase (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Herein, swine testis (ST) cells were treated with 1.8 μM of DBP or/and 25.39 nM of NRG for 24 h, we described the discovery path of NRG inhibition on apoptosis in DBP-exposed ST cells through targeting phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN). We first found that the anti-apoptosis effect of NRG is dependent on mitochondrial pathway through flow cytometry and related gene/protein expression, and then we detected PI3K/AKT pathway-related gene/protein expression, and established a computational docking assay between NRG and PTEN. We found that NRG specifically binds to three basic residues (His93, Lys125, Lys128) of P loop in PTEN, as well as phosphatase domains (Asp92, His93, Cys124, Lys125, Ala126, Lys128, and Arg130) in active dephosphorylation pockets, thereby reducing PTEN level and activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and further inhibiting oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathway apoptosis. Taken together, our results push forward that NRG deserves further attention as a potential antagonistic therapy against DBP through targeting PTEN to inhibit oxidative stress and activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

This study investigated whether using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a carrier for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) could delay the degradation rate of DBP in mice and increase its estrogen-like interference effect. Pregnant Balb/C mice were divided into four groups and exposed to different treatments via tail-vein injection every 3 days until gestational day 20. The female and male mice were then sacrificed for toxicological study. The results showed that the combination of MWCNTs and DBP resulted in a higher fetal mortality rate than if the mice were exposed to MWCNTs or DBP alone. H&E staining showed that the estrous period of the exposed mice was delayed, the development of oocytes was blocked in the combination group, the number of spermatogenic cells decreased, and the quality of sperm decreased. Our experiment showed that the expression levels of the genes involved in sex hormone synthesis in the testis and ovaries were significantly increased after combined treatment compared with the MWCNT group (p < 0.01). The study suggests that DBP degradation is delayed when absorbed on MWCNTs, which increases its estrogen-like interference and interferes with fetal development, ultimately leading to increased fetal mortality.

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), one of the plasticizers, is considered a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to its widespread application in personal-care products and serves as a raw material in many industries for the generation of many plastic products. Several scientific investigations have shown that DBP caused embryotoxicity and cognitive impairments. However, there is less understanding of the genotoxic potential of DBP in neuronal tissue when exposure happens continuously for several generations. The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of DBP on the nucleic acids of neuronal tissue in one-month-old rats by performing a comet assay and biochemical analyses. By oral gavage, the parental generation (F0) was administered DBP (500 mg/kg/day) during gestation (GD6-20) and lactation, and exposures were continued for three consecutive generations until the pups were grown to one-month-old. The oxidative stress assessments carried out in discrete brain regions isolated from one-month-old rats (F1–F3) following DBP exposure indicated significant inhibition in the levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) while oxidant status (malondialdehyde) was elevated significantly. The extent of DNA damage using the comet assay, as measured by the olive moment, tail DNA percentage and tail length, was greater in DBP-treated rats compared with the control group, but RNA/DNA content decreased significantly. The results of this study suggested a strong link between oxidative stress and genetic integrity in the neuronal tissue of rats exposed to DBP generationally. To summarise, DBP exposure during pregnancy caused oxidative stress, which resulted in genetic instability in specific discrete brain regions of the third generation.

General population is exposed to dibutyl phthalate (DBP) through continuous use of various consumer products. DBP exhibits its effects mainly on the endocrine and reproductive system but it can also affect the function of the vasculature; however, the underlying mechanisms behind DBP-induced vascular dysfunction are not fully understood. To infer pathways, molecular functions, biological processes, and human diseases associated with DBP exposure, we integrated the toxicogenomic data obtained from the 4-week-long exposure of human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) to three environmentally relevant concentrations of DBP with the in silico analysis. Nine genes were affected by DBP exposure: six of the integrin family, VCAM1, ICAM1, and MMP2. As shown by the in silico analysis, changes in DBP-affected genes could affect extracellular matrix and binding of molecules and cells to ECs, thereby altering cell adhesion and migration. Several pathways, molecular functions, and biological processes were further identified to provide insight into the DBP-vascular disease relationships and the potential mechanism of action. The top three human disease categories associated with DBP exposure and vascular dysfunction include cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and immune system diseases. Integration of experimental and in silico approaches may offer better understanding of the potential human health risks associated with DBP exposure.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and phthalate esters (PAEs) are used extensively as plastics and plasticizers. Enzymatic degradation of PET and PAEs has drawn great attention in recent years; however, evolution of PET- and PAE-degrading enzymes is still a big challenge, partly because of the lack of an effective screening method to detect phthalic acid (PA) and terephthalic acid (TPA), which are the main hydrolysis products of PAEs and PET. Here, by directed evolution of a promiscuous transcription factor, XylS from

The occurrence and distribution of six phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in surface water and sediment of the Pearl River were investigated, including Xijiang River (XR), Beijiang River (BR), Lingdingyang Estuary (LE), and Guangzhou River (GR) in South China. Six target PAEs were identified in surface water and sediment at almost all sites in the Pearl River, with di(2-ethyl-ethyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as dominant PAEs. Total 6 PAEs (ΣPAEs) in surface water and sediment ranged from 1,797.5 to 4,968.5 ng L

Human biomonitoring provides a scientific approach that systematically reveals exposure to phthalates through all possible routes. In this pilot study, fingernail was chosen as a non-destructive biospecimen to assess human exposure to nine phthalates. Concentrations of total phthalates ranged from 17.8 to 176 µg/g (median: 65.4 µg/g). Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di-isobutyl phthalate were the major compounds found in fingernails, accounting for 64.3%, 19.4%, and 12.9% of the total phthalates, respectively. No significant difference in phthalates concentrations was found among genders and age-related distribution (p 0.05). The concentration of DBP was positively correlated with participant's body mass index (r = 0.83). Our results suggested that fingernail can be used as a non-invasive biospecimen for the biomonitoring of human exposure to phthalates. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between phthalates or their metabolites in fingernail and other biological samples, such as urine and blood.

The spatiotemporal distributions, influential factors, and ecological risks of 15 phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in the sediments of three typical lakes in Inner Mongolia were investigated in this work. PAEs were widespread in all surface sediments ranging from 598.3 to 3873.8 μg/kg dry weight. Average PAE concentrations were highest in the surface sediments of Wuliangsuhai Lake followed by Daihai and Hulun Lakes, which were consistent with population density and intensity of anthropogenic activities. Dibutyl phthalate, di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were the dominant PAEs with similar abundance orders for the three lakes. The cold climate could explain the higher DEP abundance in the sediments of lakes at higher latitudes. The highest Σ PAE and most individual PAE concentrations were located at one of the discharge river estuaries because most PAEs were terrestrial pollutants. Σ PAE concentrations in the core sediments increased with years and fluctuations owing to the increasing PAE usage and input. The second highest PAE concentration peaks were associated with the high gross domestic product growth rates in 2003-2008. Redundancy analysis revealed that butyl benzyl phthalate and diamyl phthalate in the surface sediments of Hulun Lake were principally positively influenced by organic matter (65.6% contribution among geochemical variables), Fe oxides (25.1% contribution among metals), and Mn oxides (23.8% contribution among metals). The DIBP and DEP exhibited high risks to sensitive fish according to a risk quotient assessment. This work presents new insights into PAE status and deposition mechanisms in the lakes within high latitudes or cold climates, and provides important information for future environmental protection and management.

Diet is an important exposure pathway of phthalate esters (PAEs) for humans. A total of 174 food samples covering 11 food groups were collected from Xi'an, a typical valley city in Northwest China, and analyzed to assess the occurrence and exposure risks for PAEs in the food. Twenty-two PAEs were detected. The sum of the 22 PAEs (∑22PAEs) varied between 0.0340 and 56.8 µg/g, with a mean of 3.94 µg/g. The major PAEs were di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DiDP), which were associated mainly with the usage of plasticizers. Bio-availability of the PAEs in the combined gastro-intestinal fluid simulant of digestion was higher than that in the single gastric or intestinal fluid simulant. Bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate exhibited the highest bio-availability in each of the three simulants. Bio-availability of the PAEs was negatively correlated with the molecular weight and octanol-water partition coefficient of the PAEs and positively correlated with the solubility and vapor pressure of the PAEs. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PAEs based on national and municipal food consumption data was lower than the reference dose (RfD) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the tolerable dairy intake (TDI) of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), except for the EDI of DnBP and DiBP being higher than the TDI of EFSA. Grains and vegetables were the major sources of human dietary exposure to PAEs. The hazardous quotient for human dietary exposure to PAEs was less than the critical value of 1 and the cancer risk of butyl benzyl phthalate and DEHP was in the range of 10

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are commonly released from plastic pipes in some water distribution systems. Here, we show that exposure to a low concentration (1-10 μg/L) of three PAEs (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) promotes

The flotator Oxal, mixture of dioxane ethers and alcohols as well as 1, 2 and 3 atomic alcohols, has been studied as a plasticizer for suspension PVC in comparison with the well-known dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DOP). The rheological parameters and gelation ability of plasticizers were determined, the values of the storage modulus and tangent of mechanical loss angle in the glassy and rubbery states were measured by the DMA method, and the glass transition temperatures were determined. The deformation-strength properties and rigidity of polymer films were tested before and after light-thermal aging. Oxal was shown to reveal a fairly low viscosity and high gelation properties in relation to PVC. At the same time, its ability to reduce the glass transition temperature and elasticize the polymer in the glassy and rubbery state is somewhat lower than that of phthalate plasticizers. PVC samples plasticized with DBP have the highest resistance to light-thermal aging.

Rapid detection of contaminants for the purpose of sensitive and quantitative monitoring of environmental hazards is an essential first step in realizing the avoidance of human health risks. In this regard, we present a fast and simple electrochemical method of detecting di

Phthalic acid esters are predominantly used as plasticizers and are industrially produced on the million ton scale per year. They exhibit endocrine-disrupting, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects on wildlife and humans. For this reason, biodegradation, the major process of phthalic acid ester elimination from the environment, is of global importance. Here, we studied bacterial phthalic acid ester degradation at Saravan landfill in Hyrcanian Forests, Iran, an active disposal site with 800 tons of solid waste input per day. A di-n-butyl phthalate degrading enrichment culture was established from which Paenarthrobacter sp. strain Shss was isolated. This strain efficiently degraded 1 g L–1 di-n-butyl phthalate within 15 h with a doubling time of 5 h. In addition, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, mono butyl phthalate, and phthalic acid where degraded to CO2, whereas diethyl hexyl phthalate did not serve as a substrate. During the biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate was identified in culture supernatants by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In vitro assays identified two cellular esterase activities that converted di-n-butyl phthalate to mono-n-butyl phthalate, and the latter to phthalic acid, respectively. Our findings identified Paenarthrobacter sp. Shss amongst the most efficient phthalic acid esters degrading bacteria known, that possibly plays an important role in di-n-butyl phthalate elimination at a highly phthalic acid esters contaminated landfill.

Marine Streptomyces S073 was previously shown to have strong anti-Vibrio activity, and its antibacterial mechanism was proposed to be associated with siderophore-mediated iron competition and other antagonistic agents. In this study, anti-Vibrio compounds produced by S073 were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation using column chromatography and HPLC, and the target compound in the most active fraction was identified as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) by various spectroscopic analyses, including EI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The DBP-producing capacity of S073 was 2.39 mg/L in ISP1 culture media. Pure DBP was demonstrated to have strong inhibitory activity on Vibiro parahaemolyticus growth with an MIC of 31.25 mg/L. When standard DBP was supplemented into the S073 fermentation broth in a gradient method, an additive inhibitory effect on V. parahaemolyticus was observed, indicating the important role of DBP in driving anti-Vibrio activity in S073 metabolites pool. A synergistic additive effect between DBP and florfenicol was observed in the Vibrio inhibition. These results indicate that, to achieve Vibrio-inhibition, S073 exerted multifaceted strategies, which included DBP-mediated antagonism and siderophore-governed iron competition. The application potential of S073 as an aquaculture probiotic was evaluated, and the safety risks associated with the endocrine disruptor attributes of DBP were discussed.

Background Fast food consumption is associated with biomarkers of ortho-phthalates exposures. However, the chemical content of fast food is unknown; certain ortho-phthalates (i.e., di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) have been phased out and replaced with other plasticizers (e.g., dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT)). Objective We conducted a preliminary study to examine ortho-phthalate and replacement plasticizer concentrations in foods and food handling gloves from U.S. fast food restaurants. Methods We obtained hamburgers, fries, chicken nuggets, chicken burritos, cheese pizza (n = 64 food samples) and gloves (n = 3) from restaurants and analyzed them for 11 chemicals using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results We found DEHT at the highest concentrations in both foods (n = 19; median = 2510 µg/kg; max = 12,400 µg/kg) and gloves (n = 3; range: 28–37% by weight). We detected DnBP and DEHP in 81% and 70% of food samples, respectively. Median DEHT concentrations were significantly higher in burritos than hamburgers (6000 µg/kg vs. 2200 µg/kg; p Significance To our knowledge, these are the first measurements of DEHT in food. Our preliminary findings suggest that ortho-phthalates remain ubiquitous and replacement plasticizers may be abundant in fast food meals. Impact statement A selection of popular fast food items sampled in this study contain detectable levels of replacement plasticizers and concerning ortho-phthalates. In addition, food handling gloves contain replacement plasticizers, which may be a source of food contamination. These results, if confirmed, may inform individual and regulatory exposure reduction strategies.

Plasticizers increase the flexibility of plastics. As environmental leachates they lead to increased water and soil pollution, as well as to serious harm to human health. This study was set out to explore various web applications to predict the toxicological properties of plasticizers. Web-based tools (e.g., BOILED-Egg, LAZAR, PROTOX-II, CarcinoPred-EL) and VEGA were accessed via an 5th–10th generation computer in order to obtain toxicological predictions. Based on the LAZAR mutagenicity assessment was only bisphenol F predicted as mutagenic. The BBP and DBP in RF; DEHP in RF and XGBoost; DNOP in RF and XGBoost models were predicted as carcinogenic in the CarcinoPred-EL web application. From the bee predictive model (KNN/IRFMN) BPF, di-n-propyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diisohexyl phthalate were predicted as strong bee toxicants. Acute toxicity for fish using the model Sarpy/IRFMN predicted 19 plasticizers as strong toxicants with LC50 values of less than 1 mg/L. This study also considered plasticizer effects on gastrointestinal absorption and other toxicological endpoints.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) can enter environment media by secondary effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) into receiving rivers, thus posing a threat to ecosystem health. A level III fugacity model was established to simulate the fate and transfer of four PAEs in a study area in Tianjin, China, and to evaluate the influence of WWTP discharge on PAEs levels in the receiving river. The results show that the logarithmic residuals of most simulated and measured values of PAEs are within one order of magnitude with a good agreement. PAEs in the study area were mainly distributed in soil and sediment phases, which accounted for 84.66%, 50.26%, 71.96% and 99.09% for dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), respectively. The upstream advection accounted for 77.90%, 93.20%, 90.21% and 90.93% of the total source of DMP, DEP, DBP and DEHP in the river water, respectively, while the contribution of secondary effluent discharge was much lower. Sensitivity analysis shows that emission and inflow parameters have greater influences on the multimedia distributions of PAEs than physicochemical and environmental parameters. Monte Carlo analysis quantifies the uncertainties and verifies the reliability of the simulation results.

Elektrode na bazi ugljikove paste su uvelike korištene u elektroanalizi zbog mnogih prednosti poput širokog raspona električnog potencijala, mogućnosti izrade i uporabe elektroda s mnoštvom različitih kombinacija sastavnih elemenata, svoje kemijske inertnosti i prihvatljive cijene. U ovom radu pripremljen je niz elektroda s ugljikovom pastom uz dibutilftalat kao tekućinu za lijepljenje te ionsko-asocijacijskim kompleksom – maprotilinov tetrafenilboratom prethodno istaloženim u laboratoriju, za određivanje farmaceutika maprotilin hidroklorida, u koncentracijskom području od 3,16·10 -6 do 3,16·10 -3 M pri pH=4,5. Pripravljeno je i ispitano 16 elektroda s različitim omjerima grafita, veziva, ionsko-asocijacijskog kompleksa i dodataka za poboljšanje odziva; ionske soli i grafen. Najbolje odzivne karakteristike je pokazala elektroda 12, koja se sastoji od 49,16% grafita, 49,16% dibutilftalata, 1,48% ionsko-asocijacijskog kompleksa i 0,20% natrijevog tetrafenilborata. Na taj način izrađena elektroda je pokazala promjenu potencijala po koncentracijskoj dekadi od 52,14 mV u linearnom dinamičkom rasponu od 3,16·10 -6 do 3,16·10 -3 M. Carbon-based electrodes have been widely used in electroanalysis due to many advantages such as wide range of electric potential, the ability to make and use electrodes with many different combinations of components, their chemical inertness and reasonable price. A series of graphite-based ion-selective electrodes were prepared with dibutyl phthalate as a binder with a dissolved ion-association complex – maprotiline tetraphenylborate for the determination of maprotiline hydrochloride, pharmaceutical, in the concentration range from 3,16·10 -6 to 3,16·10 -3 M at pH = 4,5. 16 electrodes with different ratios of graphite, binder, ion-association complex and additives to improve the response: ionic salt and graphen were prepared and tested. The best response characteristics were shown by electrode 12, which consists of 49,16% graphite, 49,16% dibutyl phthalate, 1,48% ionic- association complex and 0,20% sodium tetraphenylborate. The electrode made in this way showed a change in potential per concentration decade of 52,14 mV in the linear dynamic range from 3,16·10 -6 to 3,16·10 -3 M.

Understanding the heterogeneous nano/microscopic structures of various organic glasses is fundamental and necessary for many applications. Recently, unusual structural phenomena have been observed experimentally in various organic glasses near their glass transition temperatures (Tg), including dibutyl phthalate (DBP). In particular, the librational motion of radical probe in the glass is progressively suppressed upon temperature increase. In this work, we report in-depth molecular dynamics studies of structural anomalies in DBP glass, that revealed insights into the general mechanism of these phenomena. In particular, we have evidenced that the two types of solvation within alkyl chains coexist, allowing only small-angle wobbling of the solute molecule (TEMPO radical), and another favouring large-angle rotations. The former solvation assumes constrained location of the solute near carboxyl groups of DBP, while the latter is coupled to the concerted movement of butyl chains. Remarkably, excellent qualitative and quantitative agreement with previous experimental results were obtained. As such, we are certain that the above-mentioned dynamic phenomena explain the intriguing structural anomalies observed in DBP and some other glasses in the vicinity of Tg.

In order to understand the composition and accumulation characteristics of phthalates esters (PAEs) in agricultural soils in Gansu province, a total of 41 soil samples from four agricultural soils in Gansu province were collected, and the content of six PAEs compounds was analyzed using a gas chromatography-single quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed that the average value of PAEs compounds in agricultural soils in Gansu province was 432.4 μg·kg

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) an exogenous chemical or mixture of chemicals, which can interfere with hormonal action. The phthalates and their metabolism like Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are considered EDCs disturb the action of reproductive hormones. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 84 selected adult volunteers from both genders to assess the association between serum DBP concentration and sex hormone levels in adult Egyptians. Serum DBP was measured by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Serum sex hormones, sex hormone- binding globulin (SHBG), and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In males, there was a significant decrease in total testosterone (T), Free testosterone (FT), Bioavailable testosterone (BT), Free Androgen Index (FAI) between low and high exposure to DBP, while Estradiol (E2) was significantly increased. In the female, there were significant increases in total E2, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and significant reduction in progesterone in high exposure group compared to low exposure to DBP. This study showed that there was a significant strong correlation between DBP with T, T/ E2 in males while female subjects showed a significant strong positive correlation with LH and FSH. There is increasing evidence that DBP has an impact on human sex hormones which can cause many physiological disturbances and many diseases in Egyptian adults. It is recommended that reduce human exposure to DBP in the food supply.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like phthalates, mostly discharged in industrial effluents, cause detrimental effects to different life forms, and hence their removal from constituent wastewater is necessary. This study investigated the kinetics of biomass growth and biodegradation of benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) by Arthrobacter sp. in a surfactant-aided batch system. The effect of different surfactants on aqueous solubility of BBP and DBP was initially examined, which showed that Tween 80 resulted in maximum bioavailability and biodegradation efficiency of the phthalates by the bacterium and without inhibiting the biomass growth. Compared with BBP, DBP was found to be efficiently degraded and supported the bacterial growth within a short period of time over the entire concentration tested in the range 100–1,000 mg L−1. A maximum biomass concentration of 1.819 g L−1 was obtained at 120 h for a DBP concentration of 600 mg L−1 in the presence of Tween 80, which is 5.66-fold increase in biomass concentration as compared with only DBP as the sole substrate. For evaluating the biokinetic parameters involved in DBP biodegradation, the experimental data on DBP utilization were fitted to various kinetic models as reported in the literature. HIGHLIGHTS Biokinetics of surfactant-aided biodegradation of phthalates is reported.; Tween 80 enhanced phthalate biodegradation by improving its bioavailability.; Arthrobacter sp. showed direct uptake of micellar solubilized phthalates.; Efficient biodegradation is achieved overcoming growth inhibition.

The spatiotemporal distribution of phthalate acid esters (phthalates, PAEs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in China was studied. The concentration of PAEs in influent and effluent increased from 2009 to 2016, indicating that the exposure level of PAEs in China increased continuously. Although the concentration of PAEs in sewage sludge in China ranged from 33.3 to 298 ug/g, there was no obvious spatial distribution pattern. Among the 19 PAE homologues, DEHP, DnBP, and DIBP were the most abundant phthalates detected in wastewater and sludge. Ecological risk assessment confirmed that there was a high chronic and acute risk of DIBP in effluent since 2015. Therefore, this study highlights the need for further studies on the exposure and toxicology of DIBP. Dietary intake accounted for more than 98% of the total risk, indicating that the risk of sludge application in agricultural land was much higher than that in nonagricultural land. The results from this study will provide valuable information for the safe disposal of sludge and wastewater.

The prediction of harmful effects can guide research on the health hazards of environmental pollutants. The development of a computer-aided drug design in pharmacological technology and omics database remarkably facilitates the prediction of the possible harmful effects of hazardous substances. In this study, the pharmacophore target database based on molecular structure served as a bridge between pollutants and genes and combined with the omics database and molecular pathway enrichment technology to predict the potential prostatic cancer-promoting effect of dibutyl phthalate. Cell experiments and gene expression were carried out to verify the previous prediction, and the characteristics of harmful effects were further explored. Low concentrations of dibutyl phthalate may have androgen-independent prostate cancer-promoting effects, which may put patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy in danger. This study suggests the potential negative effects of phthalates on prostate cancer and a method for predicting harmful effects on the basis of pharmacology technology.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy affecting residents of rural farming areas in many Balkan countries. Although it is generally believed that BEN is an environmental disease caused by multiple geochemical factors with much attention on aristolochic acids (AAs), its etiology remains controversial. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that environmental contamination and subsequent food contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalate esters are AA toxicity factors and important to BEN development. We identified significantly higher concentrations of phenanthrene, anthracene, diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) in both maize and wheat grain samples collected from endemic villages than from nonendemic villages. Other PAHs and phthalate esters were also detected at higher concentrations in the soil samples from endemic villages. Subsequent genotoxicity testing of cultured human kidney cells showed an alarming phenomenon that phenanthrene, DEP, BBP, and DBP can interact synergistically with AAs to form elevated levels of AA-DNA adducts, which are associated with both the nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity of AAs, further increasing their disease risks. This study provides direct evidence that prolonged coexposure to these environmental contaminants via dietary intake may lead to greater toxicity and accelerated development of BEN.

The results of assessing the possibilities of using of biomass of fallen leaves as a filler of composite polymer materials with a polyvinyl chloride polymer matrix are presented. Samples of composites with biomass of fallen leaves we obtained by extrusion and hot pressing method. The dependences of their physical and mechanical properties on the content of the filler were determined. These de-pendencies are given in the form of polynomial of the second degree. In terms of most physical and mechanical properties (with the exception of impact strength) composites with biomass of fallen leaves are superior to samples of wood-polymer composites with wood flour with a similar degree of filling. Made of a comparison of the effectiveness of three different plasticizers: dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl therephthalate. The most promising is the use of dibutyl phthalate as a plasticizer. It has been shown that the biomass of fallen leaves is an effective replacement for wood flour in the production of wood-polymer composite materials with a s fr.

Objective: Phthalates, despite their endocrine disrupting effects, are widely used as plastifiants. Environmental exposure of phthalates was demonstrated to cause fetal death and reproductive toxicity in human beings, as well as in laboratory animals. However, underlying mechanisms are not clear. Material and Methods: Here, we examine the impact of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP)on rat lungs, brain and heart by scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). First, we evaluate tissues of mother rats and we show that the acoustic impedance values oftissues of DEHP and DBP delivered rats differ from those of tissues of the control rat. Then, element level analyses withinthese tissues are done and element levels within tissues of DEHP and DBP delivered pregnant rats are found to be higherthan those within tissues of the control pregnant rat. We then evaluate the tissues of offspring female rats. Results: It is shown that acoustic impedance values of tissues of offspring rats of DEHP and DBP delivered mother rats are higher than those of tissues of the control offspring rats of the control mother rat. Besides, element analysis revealshigher element levels in the tissues of offspring rats of DEHP and DBP delivered mother rats. Conclusion: Therefore, we can conclude that phthalates cause structural and functional changes within rat internal organs such as lungs, brain and heart. In summary, both modalities are confirmatory in a way that tissues of DEHP and DBP exposed pregnant rats and their offspring rats are differentiated by different acoustic impedance values obtained by SAM and higher element levels specified by ICP-OES.

Insects possess a fairly sophisticated olfactory system in their antennae to detect odorants essential for their survival and reproduction. Among them, insect first perceives odour sources by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) to locate host-plants. Methyl salicylate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and dibutyl phthalate are major volatile components of Ulmus pumila and Ricinus communis and elicit strong responses of the scarab beetle Holotrichia oblita adults. However, olfactory perception of the scarab beetle to these odorant compounds is unclear. In the current study, we cloned the OBP6 and OBP7 of H. oblita. The expression pattern shows that the two genes were highly expressed in the antennae of female beetles. Binding assays verified that the HoblOBP6 had a better binding affinity to methyl salicylate, and so did HoblOBP7 to (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and dibutyl phthalate. The effect on the responses of female beetles to the three compounds was decreased significantly after these two genes were silenced by RNA interference. These results indicate that HoblOBP6 and HoblOBP7 are essential for female H. oblita perception of methyl salicylate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and dibutyl phthalate. Our study provides important insights into the olfactory mechanism of female H. oblita to ester plant volatiles and could facilitate the development of potential pest control strategies in the field.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of melatonin and Allium sativum (garlic) on dibutyl phthalate (DBP) influence on spermiogram of rabbit bucks. Forty two (42) rabbit bucks were used for this study, bucks were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 bucks each. Group A was administered olive oil for 16 weeks, group B (olive oil + DBP for 16 weeks), group C (melatonin for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group D (garlic for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group E (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin for another 8 week), group F (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then garlic for another 8 weeks) and group G (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin and garlic for another 8 weeks). The observation period lasted for 120 days, during which semen samples were collected weekly between the hours of 8.00 am to 10.00 am using artificial vagina (AV).There were significant differences (P

A bacterial strain ASLT-13 was successfully isolated from activated sludge and identified as Pseudomonas amygdali. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis indicated that strain ASLT-13...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread pollutants and they can cause cancer, abnormality and mutation. Nine natural PAHs-degrading bacteria were obtained from polluted areas. These bacteria and the bacterial mixture can degrade phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. The bacterial mixture can increase the degradation rates of several PAHs compounds, such as phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene, during the repaired process, and the degradation rates of these compounds were over 83%. The efficient degradation of PAHs should be the cooperation of key enzymes, such as dioxygenase and dehydrogenase, in the bacterial mixture. The main accumulated metabolite of above four PAHs was dibutyl phthalate detected by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, indicating that the degradation process of PAHs mainly represented the phthalic acid pathway in this work. And the toxicity of PAHs could be decreased by biodegradation. The effects of cultural factors, such as culture time, temperature, metal ions and pH on PAHs degradation efficiency were also studied.

Objective India is referred as goldmine of herbal drugs but still lack of optimization of herbal drugs, which has kept us on the back foot. The rationale of the study is to prepare optimized transdermal drug delivery system of curcumin employing response surface methodology to study the collective effect of independent variables like concentration of ethyl cellulose, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose and dibutyl phthalate which significantly influenced characteristics like percentage elongation and in vitro drug release. Method Twenty formulations containing varying concentrations of polymers and permeation enhancer were prepared using solvent casting technique. Result The study revealed that the effect of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) concentration was the highest on percentage elongation (P Conclusion It can be concluded that in future if proper optimization of herbal formulations is carried out, they can become the first choice for patients as compare to synthetic drugs.

Široka upotreba bis(2-etilheksil)ftalata (DEHP), dibutil ftalata (DBP) i bisfenola A (BPA) otvara niz mogućnosti za istovremenu izloženost ljudi ovim toksičnim supstancama u svakodnevnom životu. Cilj ove doktorske disertacije bio je da ispita toksičnost smeše DEHP, DBP i BPA u odnosu na pojedinačne supstance na eksperimentalnim modelima pacova i zebrice, razjasni mehanizme toksičnosti smeše in silico toksikogenomičkom analizom podataka i utvrdi potencijalnu efikasnost probiotika u umanjenju štetnih efekata ispitivane smeše kod pacova i zebrica. Nakon subakutne izloženosti pacova, smeša je proizvela značajne promene u telesnoj masi, unosu hrane i vode, nivou hormona, lipidnom profilu, pojedinim hematološkim i biohemijskim parametrima, patohistološkim nalazima tkiva, nivoima parametara oksidativnog stresa/antioksidativne zaštite i bioelementima. Neki od ovih efekata bili su prisutni samo u grupi tretiranoj smešom ili izraženiji u odnosu na grupe tretirane pojedinačnim supstancama. Eksperiment na embrionima zebrica potvrdio je da je toksičnost smeše izraženija u odnosu na toksičnost pojedinačnih supstanci, kao i da je efekat smeše prvenstveno diktiran efektima BPA. In silico analiza ukazala je na povezanost ispitivane smeše i razvoja različitih poremećaja pri čemu su kao dominantni molekularni mehanizmi izdvojeni oksidativni stres i apoptoza. Pokazan je zaštitni efekat probiotika protiv štetnih efekata smeše, posebno u slučaju smanjenja telesne mase, unosa hrane, biohemijskih i hematoloških parametara, nivoa hormona, parametara redoks statusa i bioelemenata u plazmi, tkivu pankreasa, pluća, timusa, bubrega i testisa pacova, kao i protiv efekata na rast i razvoj, hepatotoksičnosti i letaliteta ispitivane smeše kod embriona zebrica. The widespread use of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bisphenol A (BPA) opens up a range of possibilities for simultaneous human exposure to these toxic substances. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to examine DEHP/DBP/BPA mixture toxicity in relation to individual substances in rat and zebrafish experimental models, clarify the mechanisms of toxicity by conducting in silico toxicogenomic analysis and determine the potential efficacy of multicomponent probiotic in reducing the adverse effects of the tested mixture in rats and zebrafish. After subacute exposure of rats, the mixture produced significant changes in bodyweight, food and water consumption, hormone levels, lipid profile, certain hematological and biochemical parameters, pathohistological findings, redox status parameters and bioelements. Some effects were present only or more prominent in the group treated with the mixture in relation to the groups treated with individual substances. Zebrafish embryos experiment confirmed that mixture toxicity was more pronounced than toxicity of individual substances, and that mixture effects were primarily dictated by BPA. In silico analysis indicated an association between the mixture and development of various disorders, with oxidative stress and apoptosis being the dominant molecular mechanisms. Probiotic protective effect against mixture harmful effects has been shown, especially in the case of bodyweight gain, food intake, biochemical and hematological parameters, hormone levels, redox status parameters and bioelements in plasma, pancreatic, lung, thymus, kidney and testis in rats, as well as against lethal, teratogenic and hepatotoxic effects in zebrafish embryos.

Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ; gene: PPARG) and oxidative stress genes are associated with asthma risk. However, whether such variants modulate responses to dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a common plasticizer associated with increased asthma development, remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate how SNPs in PPARG and oxidative stress genes, as represented by two separate genetic risk scores, modify the impact of DBP exposure on lung function and the airway and systemic response after an inhaled allergen challenge. Methods We conducted a double-blinded human crossover study with sixteen allergen-sensitized participants exposed for three hours to DBP and control air on distinct occasions separated by a 4-week washout. Each exposure was followed by an allergen inhalation challenge; subsequently, lung function was measured, and blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected and analyzed for cell counts and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). Genetic risk scores for PPAR-γ (P-GRS; weighted sum of PPARG SNPs rs10865710, rs709158, and rs3856806) and oxidative stress (OS-GRS; unweighted sum of 16 SNPs across multiple genes) were developed, and their ability to modify DBP effects were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Results P-GRS and OS-GRS modified DBP effects on allergen-specific IgE in blood at 20 h (interaction effect [95% CI]: 1.43 [1.13 to 1.80], p = 0.005) and 3 h (0.99 [0.98 to 1], p = 0.03), respectively. P-GRS also modified DBP effects on Th2 cells in blood at 3 h (− 25.2 [− 47.7 to − 2.70], p = 0.03) and 20 h (− 39.1 [− 57.9 to − 20.3], p = 0.0005), and Th2 cells in BAL at 24 h (− 4.99 [− 8.97 to − 1.01], p = 0.02). An increasing P-GRS associated with reduced DBP effect on Th2 cells. Neither GRS significantly modified DBP effects on lung function parameters. Conclusions PPAR-γ variants modulated several airway and systemic immune responses to the ubiquitous chemical plasticizer DBP. Our results suggest that PPAR-γ variants may play a greater role than those in oxidative stress-related genes in airway allergic responses to DBP. Trial registration: This study reports results from The Phthalate-Allergen Immune Response Study that was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with identification NCT02688478.

The components of OBL were compiled by literature search, and their active ingredients were screened by online database. The drug targets of OBL in the treatment of AD were predicted and analyzed using information derived from sources such as the SwissTargetPrediction tool. And through the network visual analysis function of Cytoscape software and protein-protein interaction analysis (PPI), the core targets of OBL treatment of AD are predicted. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were employed to analyze the related signaling pathways affected by OBL. Moreover, AutoDock software was used to assess the potential binding affinity between the core targets and the active compounds. Subsequently,A total of 35 active compounds and 188 targets of OBL were screened, of which 43 common targets were related to AD. The active compounds of 35 OBLs induced 118 GO and 78 KEGG. The results of PPI and network topology parameter analysis show that targets such as MAPK1, GSK3B, NR3C2, ESR1, and EGFR are known as the core targets for the treatment of AD by OBL and are docked with the active ingredients of OBL. Molecular docking results suggest that diterbutyl phthalate (DBP) may be the main active component of OBL for the treatment of AD. Flow cytometry analysis results showed that apoptosis decreased with increasing DBP dose. In addition, DBP significantly decreased the levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the supernatant of AConclusively, our study suggests that DBP, the main active component of OBL, has potential in the prevention or treatment of AD.

Highlights • A high concentration BEP and DBP were detected from LDPE, HDPE and RP polymer films. • The impact salinity, temperature and UVR on leaching and re-adsorption of PaEs were investigated. • A mass balance approach was used to determine the adsorption loss of each target compounds during the leaching process. • Surface adsorption of PEs removed 40 to 80% of the leached PEs. Abstract In this study, the leaching of six phthalic acid esters (PAEs) from three common consumer plastics was investigated: low and high density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE) and recycled polyethylene (RP). The effects of salinity, temperature, and ultraviolet irradiation (UVR) on leaching were investigated. The study of leaching of phthalates in aqueous environments in batch experiments is challenging due to their readsorption by the high hydrophobicity of PAEs, and there are no standard methods to study release processes. Here with the experiments, leaching (A) and spiking (B) using six PAEs to study the readsorption in the leaching process. PAEs were identified and quantified using GC–MS. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (DEHP) showed considerable leaching during the 5-day incubation: 14 ± 1 to 128 ± 14 and 25 ± 2 to 79 ± 5 ng/cm2, respectively, under UVR, corresponding approximately to (1.9–13%) and (12.4–22.4%) of the solvent extracted mass. The highest Kd values were measured for RP polymers (0.3–9.4), followed by LDPE (0.5–5.4) and HDPE (0.2–2.2) polymers. Thus, readsorption of PAEs at the surface removed 30–80% of the leached PAEs in the dissolved phase. For example in LDPE, the calculated total release of DBP was up to 54 ± 4 ng/cm2, while the dissolved amount was 8.5 ± 1 ng/cm2 during the 5-day incubation under freshwater conditions. Increasing salinity negatively affected the leaching rate, which decreased for DBP from 54 ± 4 ng/cm2 in freshwater to 44 ± 3 and 38 ± 3 ng/cm2 at salinity of 20 and 40 g/L, respectively, from LDPE during the 5-day incubation. Temperature and UVR had a positive effect on the leaching rate, with the release of DBP from LDPE increasing from 44 ± 3 ng/cm2 at room temperature (25 °C) to 60 ± 6 and 128 ± 14 ng/cm2 at high temperature (40 °C) and UVR, respectively. Overall, this study highlights the positive relationship between temperatures, UVR on the extent of leaching and surface adsorption on the leaching measurements. Graphical abstract Schematic of the leaching process in experiment (A: polymer) and in Experiment B (Polymer + spikes), shows that part of leachate were re-adsorbed on the surface of the polymer were may affect the dissolution concentration. The total leached mass (adsorbed and dissolved) were estimation by compared to a treatment containing both polymer and PAEs spike (P + S; Experiment B). The influence of salinities (0.1, 20 and 40 g/L), temperature (10, 25, and 40 °C), and ultraviolet radiation (UVR 350 nm) on the leaching and re-adsorption of PEs was investigated.

The widespread environmental contaminant di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) has been linked with reduced testosterone levels and adverse reproductive health outcomes in men. However, the underlying mechanisms of these anti-androgenic effects and the potential effects on other classes of steroid hormones remain to be elucidated. Here, we conducted mechanistic studies in human adrenocortical H295R cells exposed to 1-500 µM of DBP or its metabolite, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), for 48 h. Quantification of steroid hormones in the cell medium by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that both phthalates significantly decreased testosterone, androstenedione, corticosterone, and progesterone levels, in particular after dibutyryl-cyclic-AMP stimulation of steroidogenesis. Western blot analysis of key steroidogenic proteins showed that DBP induced a dose-dependent decrease of CYP11A1 and HSD3β2 levels, while MBP only significantly decreased CYP17A1 levels, indicating that the compounds affect early steps of the steroidogenesis differently. Both DBP and MBP exposure also lead to a dose-related decrease in HSD17β3, the enzyme which catalyzes the final step in the testosterone biosynthesis pathway, although these effects were not statistically significant. Interestingly, DBP increased the cortisol concentration, which may be due to the non-significant CYP11B1 increase in DBP-exposed cells. In contrast, MBP decreased cortisol concentration. Moreover, the analysis of superoxide generation and quantification of the protein oxidation marker nitrotyrosine demonstrated that DBP induced oxidative stress in H295R cells while MBP reduced protein nitrotyrosine levels. These findings confirm the anti-androgenic effects of DBP and MBP and reveal several differences in their toxicological mechanisms, with possible implications for future research on phthalate toxicity.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are recognized endocrine disruptors. Detection of PAEs in semen from idiopathic infertile males suggests possible direct mechanisms of sperm toxicity. In this study we aimed to correlate sperm function with semen levels of PAEs. Semen samples were obtained from 100 male patients attending the Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, (Italy), 22 of which having a recognized history of idiopathic infertility. Compared to fertile subjects, infertile patients showed reduced levels of acrosome reaction (AR), evaluated by CD46 staining upon progesterone (P4) triggering (p 0.001). Subjects showing positive detection of PAEs in semen, evaluated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), were significantly more represented in those reporting an history of infertility (13 out of 22), compared to fertile subjects (25 out of 78, P = 0.0266). In vitro sperm exposure to PAEs showed that lipophilic PAE representative Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) had higher cell accumulation and inhibition of P4-induced AR than less lipophilic PAE representative Dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Computer-based binding analysis and fluorimetric inhibition assay, showed that both DNOP and DBP had similar Phospholipase-A2 (PLA

The occurrence of phthalate esters (PAEs) in household tap water has been investigated via the presence of their geochemical characteristics in the pretreatment and transfer processes of water plants in the urban and suburban areas of the subtropical medium-sized city of Quanzhou, southeast China. The results for all approximately 300 tap water samples collected from 6 sampling stations at household kitchens from Nov. 30, 2017, to Dec. 6, 2018, showed that dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutylphthaate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) could be identified and quantified among the 16 PAE congeners with the developed gas chromatographymass spectrometry method. The levels of the sum of 5 PAE congeners (Σ

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemical pollutants widely distributed in the marine environment. They can accumulate in biota, posing a risk to the marine ecosystem and humans. The aim of this study was to measure the content of PAEs in the gills and muscles of three fish species (Mugil cephalus, Diplodus annularis, and Mullus barbatus) caught along the coast of Campania (Italy), as well as to ascertain the dietary exposure to PAEs through the consumption of fish. Secondly, a preliminary insight into microplastics (MPs) pollution in this area was provided through the analysis of Mugil cephalus organs. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for the PAEs analysis, while an Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscope was used to detect MPs after a pre-digestion of the samples. Risk assessment was based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and lifetime cancer risk (LTCR). The results showed higher bioaccumulation of PAEs in Mullus barbatus than in the other two species and higher concentration in gills than in muscles. MPs (polyamide, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene) were detected in half of the gill samples, but no particle was detected in the muscle samples of Mugil cephalus. A low carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk from the consumption of fish emerged, although a potential risk for the development of cancer was found in the worst-case, especially in toddlers. In conclusion, this study provides insight into PAEs pollution in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), their distribution in fish with different behaviors, and the potential risk to the consumer. Moreover, the data on pollution by MPs in this area could form the basis for future studies.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers in industrial and commercial products, and are classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds. In this study, we investigated the contamination characteristics and health risks of PAEs in the soil–plant system in coastal areas of South China. PAEs were detected in soil and plant samples at all 37 sampling sites. The total concentration of the 15 PAEs in soil samples ranged from 0.445 to 4.437 mg/kg, and the mean concentration was 1.582 ± 0.937 mg/kg. The total concentration of the 15 PAEs in plant samples ranged from 2.176 to 30.276 mg/kg, and the mean concentration was 8.712 ± 5.840 mg/kg. Di(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were the major PAEs compounds in all samples. The selected contaminants exhibited completely different spatial distributions within the study area. Notably, higher concentrations of PAEs were found in the coastal Guangdong Province of South China. The average noncarcinogenic risks of Σ6 PAEs were at acceptable levels via dietary and nondietary routes. However, the noncarcinogenic risks posed by DEHP and DBP at some sampling sites were relatively high. Furthermore, dietary and nondietary carcinogenic risks were very low for BBP, but carcinogenic risks posed by DEHP via diet. The results suggest that PAEs in the coastal soil–plant system in South China, through human risk assessment, will induce some adverse effects on human health, especially in children. This study provides an important basis for risk management of PAEs in agriculture, and safety in coastal areas of South China.