The concentrations and behavior of classic phthalates and emerging phthalate alternatives in different environmental matrices and their biological health risks.

ABSTRACT

Because of their excellent plasticity, phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely used in plastic products. However, due to the recognized toxicity of PAEs and legislative requirements, the production and use of emerging PAE alternatives have rapidly grown, such as di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) which are the primary replacements for classic PAEs. Nowadays, PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives are frequently found in a variety of environmental media, including the atmosphere, sludge, rivers, and seawater/sediment. PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives are involved in endocrine-disrupting effects, and they affect the reproductive physiology of different species of fish and mammals. Therefore, their presence in the environment is of considerable concern due to their potential effects on ecosystem function and public health. Nevertheless, current research on the prevalence, destiny, and conduct of PAEs in the environment has primarily focused on classic PAEs, with little attention given to emerging PAE alternatives. The present article furnishes a synopsis of the physicochemical characteristics, occurrence, transport, fate, and adverse effects of both classic PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives on organisms in the ecosystem. Our analysis reveals that both classic PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives are widely distributed in all environmental media, with emerging PAE alternatives increasingly replacing classic PAEs. Various pathways can transform and degrade both classic PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives, and their own and related metabolites can have toxic effects on organisms. This research offers a more extensive comprehension of the health hazards associated with classic PAEs and emerging PAE alternatives.