Diisononyl Phthalate Research Articles

Reproductive toxicity following in utero and lactational exposure to a human-relevant phthalate mixture in rats.

This rodent (Wistar rats) study examined reproductive effects of in utero/lactational exposure to a mixture of 6 antiandrogenic phthalates (PMix): diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisopentyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, and diisononyl phthalate. The PMix was defined based on exposure data from pregnant women in Brazil. Experimental groups were established by extrapolating the estimated human dose to rats (0.1 mg/kg/day), followed by up to 3 additional doses corresponding to 5, 1000, and 5000 times the starting rat dose: 0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day. The fetal experiment assessed gestational exposure effects on fetal gonads, whereas the postnatal experiment evaluated reproductive parameters in males and females after in utero and lactational exposure. Prenatal exposure decreased fetal testicular testosterone production at 0.5 and 500 mg/kg/day. PMix 500 also reduced mRNA expression of steroidogenesis-related genes, upregulated transcript expression of the retinoic acid-degrading enzyme Cyp26b1, and increased multinucleated gonocytes incidence in fetal testes. Postnatal assessment revealed antiandrogenic effects at the highest dose, including reduced anogenital distance, nipple retention, and decreased weight of reproductive organs. Early puberty onset (preputial separation) was observed at the lowest dose in males. In contrast, females did not show significant changes in fetal and adult endpoints. Overall, the PMix recapitulated early and late male rat phthalate syndrome phenotypes at the highest dose, but also induced some subtle changes at lower doses, which warrant confirmation and mechanistic assessments. Our data support the use of epidemiologically defined mixtures for exposure risk assessments over traditional toxicological approaches.

Bisphenols and phthalates in Australian wastewater: A statistical approach for estimating contributions from diffuse and point sources

Chemicals associated with plastics, such as bisphenols and phthalates, enter sewerage from both diffuse (domestic/commercial) and point (industrial) sources. In this study, we aimed to devise a conservative, statistical baseline to estimate contributions from these source types when sampling of specific sources is not possible. Population-normalised mass loads of two bisphenols and nine phthalates were estimated in wastewater samples from 22 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in 2019. Two multiday (10 and 7 day) pools were created for each STP. Baseline (diffuse) release thresholds were set at the mean of the first quartile (Q1) plus 10 times the standard deviation (STDV) of this quartile [Q1 mean + (10 x STDV)], with contributions over this considered to come from point sources. Chemicals with at least one population-normalised mass load more than three times their baseline were classified as point-source dominant and the remaining as diffuse-source dominant. Eleven of the twelve chemicals examined were detected above limits of quantification in all wastewater samples. Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) and di-methyl phthalate (DMP) were classified as point-source dominant chemicals. The total annual mass loads entering STPs across Australia were estimated to be 4.2 tonnes/year from diffuse sources and 4.5 tonnes/year from point sources for bisphenols, and 47 tonnes/year from diffuse sources and 5.9 tonnes/year from point sources for phthalates.

Alteration of pulmonary mitochondrial oxidation status, inflammation, energy metabolizing enzymes, oncogenic and apoptotic markers in mice model of diisononyl phthalate-induced asthma

Primary plasticizer used in polyvinyl chloride is diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) and exposure to DiNP has been associated with the development of asthma and allergies. In the current study, how DiNP alters pulmonary antioxidant status, inflammation, energy metabolizing enzymes, oncogenic and apoptotic markers in DiNP-induced asthmatic mice was examined. Male BALB/c mice (n=20, 20-30 g) were divided into 2 groups of 10 mice each: group 1 (control) received saline (0.2ml/kg) orally for 23 days, and group 2 (DiNP) received 50 mg/kg DiNP (Intraperitoneal and intranasal) once per day. After the last administration, mice were sacrificed, lungs were removed and used for biochemical and histopathological analysis. DiNP treated mice experienced alterations in their lung histoarchitecture, levels of oncogenic and apoptotic factors, glycolytic, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and electron transport chain enzymes (ETC), antioxidant status, and inflammatory biomarkers. DiNP decreased the lungs levels of reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-s-transferase. In the lungs of DiNP-treated mice compared to the control group, malondialdehyde and inflammatory biomarkers (nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase) were significantly greater (p<0.05). Furthermore, the activities of glycolytic enzymes hexokinase, aldolase, lactate dehydrogenase were downregulated with a concomitant increase in NADase (77%). TCA enzymes and ETC enzymes were significantly reduced as well. CAS-3, p53, Bax, c-MYC, K-Ras increased by 65%, 51%, 70%, 59% and 82% respectively while BCL-2 decreased by 74%. Histopathological analysis revealed distortion of the airway structure characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, oedema, hemorrhage, and constricted alveoli space. Exposure to DiNP caused oxidative stress which promotes lung inflammation via depletion of antioxidants, pulmonary energy transduction enzymes, levels of oncogenic and apoptotic factors were impaired as well, suggesting that the lungs may not be able to perform its morphological and physiological functions effectively.

Investigation of the effects of phthalates on in vitro thyroid models with RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq.

Phthalates are a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been shown to negatively correlate with thyroid hormone serum levels in humans and to cause a state of hyperactivity in the thyroid. However, their mechanism of action is not well described at the molecular level. We analyzed the response of mouse thyroid organoids to the exposure to a biologically relevant dose range of the phthalates bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-decylphthalate (DIDP), di-iso-nonylphthalate (DINP), and di-n-octylphthalate (DnOP) for 24 h and simultaneously analyzed mRNA and miRNA expression via RNA sequencing. Using the expression data, we performed differential expression and gene set enrichment analysis. We also exposed the human thyroid follicular epithelial cell line Nthy-ori 3-1 to 1 µM of DEHP or DINP for 5 days and analyzed changes in chromatin accessibility via ATAC-Seq. Dose-series analysis showed how the expression of several genes increased or decreased at the highest dose tested. As expected with the low dosing scheme, the compounds induced a modest response on the transcriptome, as we identified changes in only mmu-miR-143-3p after DINP treatment and very few differentially expressed genes. No effect was observed on thyroid markers. Ing5, a component of histones H3 and H4 acetylation complexes, was consistently upregulated in three out of four conditions compared to control, and we observed a partial overlap among the genes differentially expressed by the treatments. Gene set enrichment analysis showed enrichment in the treatment samples of the fatty acid metabolism pathway and in the control of pathways related to the receptor signalling and extracellular matrix organization. ATAC-Seq analysis showed a general increase in accessibility compared to the control, however we did not identify significant changes in accessibility in the identified regions. With this work, we showed that despite having only a few differentially expressed genes, diverse analysis methods could be applied to retrieve relevant information on phthalates, showing the potential of in vitro thyroid-relevant systems for the analysis of endocrine disruptors.

Evaluation of the Toxicity Potential of the Metabolites of Di-Isononyl Phthalate and of Their Interactions with Members of Family 1 of Sulfotransferases-A Computational Study.

Di-isononyl phthalates are chemicals that are widely used as plasticizers. Humans are extensively exposed to these compounds by dietary intake, through inhalation and skin absorption. Sulfotransferases (SULTs) are enzymes responsible for the detoxification and elimination of numerous endogenous and exogenous molecules from the body. Consequently, SULTs are involved in regulating the biological activity of various hormones and neurotransmitters. The present study considers a computational approach to predict the toxicological potential of the metabolites of di-isononyl phthalate. Furthermore, molecular docking was considered to evaluate the inhibitory potential of these metabolites against the members of family 1 of SULTs. The metabolites of di-isononyl phthalate reveal a potency to cause liver damage and to inhibit receptors activated by peroxisome proliferators. These metabolites are also usually able to inhibit the activity of the members of family 1 of SULTs, except for SULT1A3 and SULT1B1. The outcomes of this study are important for an enhanced understanding of the risk of human exposure to di-isononyl phthalates.

Mediation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and NF-κB signaling pathway in DINP-exacerbated allergic asthma: A toxicological study with Balb/c mice

Epidemiological evidence indicates a significant relationship between exposure to diisononyl phthalate and allergic asthma. Despite this, the mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. Previous toxicological researches have suggested that the development of allergic asthma may involve the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) pathways. Nevertheless, it is currently unknown whether these specific signaling pathways are implicated in diisononyl phthalate (DINP)-induced allergic asthma. The objective of this research was to understand how DINP exacerbates allergic asthma in Balb/c mice through ERS and NF-κB pathways. To systematically examine the aggravated effects of DINP in Balb/c mice, we measured airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), lung tissue pathology, cytokines, and ERS and NF-κB pathway biomarkers. Additionally, we applied the ERS antagonist phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) or the NF-κB antagonist pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) to verify the mediating effects of ERS and NF-κB on DINP-exacerbated allergic asthma. The results of our experiment show that oral DINP exposure may exacerbate airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling. This deterioration is accompanied by an imbalance in immunoglobulin levels, Th17/Treg cells, ERS, and NF-κB biomarkers, leading to the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, our study found that the blocking effect of 4-PBA or PDTC can inhibit the Th17/Treg imbalance and effectively alleviate symptoms resembling allergic asthma. In conclusion, ERS and NF-κB signaling pathways play an important role in regulating DINP-induced allergic asthma exacerbations.

Development of a new green analytical methodology for the determination of phthalates in single-use babies diapers using ultrasound-assisted extraction and polypropylene porous membrane

A green extraction strategy was developed and utilized for the extraction and determination of phthalates. The extraction is based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and a polypropylene porous membrane. The Box-Behnken model was performed to optimize the extraction condition. The optimal extraction conditions are 5.5 mL of ethyl acetate, 10 min of extraction time and 55 °C for extraction temperature. The developed green extraction method was successfully applied to extract target phthalate from baby's diapers. Under the optimal condition, the developed method provided acceptable recoveries in the range of 87 to 102% with a relative standard deviation lower than 13%. The developed method exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.05 to 10.0 µg g−1 with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.992 (R2). Applied the developed method coupled with the gas chromatography-mas spectroscopy (GC–MS) method, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) were found in some diaper samples. While low concentrations of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were detected in almost all diaper samples. The greenness of the developed method was also evaluated. The developed method can be used as an alternative simple, green and efficient strategy for the determination of phthalates in baby diapers. In sum, the presented article is the first step in raising awareness about carcinogenic impurities to which infants and older children are exposed.

Exposure to di-isononyl phthalate during early pregnancy disrupts decidual angiogenesis and placental development in mice

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, is found in numerous consumer products and human exposure to this phthalate is becoming inevitable. The impact of DiNP exposure on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy remains largely unknown. Thus, we conducted studies in which pregnant mice were exposed to an environmentally relevant dose (20 µg/kg BW/day) of DiNP on days 1–7 of gestation, then analyzed the effects of this exposure on pregnancy outcome. Our studies revealed that exposure to DiNP during this window led to fetal loss towards the end of gestation. Further studies showed that, although embryos were able to attach to the uterus, implantation sites in DiNP-exposed uteri exhibited impaired differentiation of stromal cells to decidual cells and an underdeveloped angiogenic network in the decidual bed. We also found that exposure to this phthalate has a significant effect on trophoblast differentiation and causes disorganization of the placental layers. The labyrinth was significantly reduced, resulting in compromised expression of nutrient transporters in the placentas of mice exposed to DiNP. These placental defects in DiNP-exposed females were the cause of fetal loss during the later stages of gestation.

"Diisononyl Phthalate Perturbs Immune Cell Energy Transduction by Disrupting Some Splenic and Lymphocyte Energy Metabolising Enzymes Activities"

"Diisononyl Phthalate Perturbs Immune Cell Energy Transduction by Disrupting Some Splenic and Lymphocyte Energy Metabolising Enzymes Activities"

Phthalates, adipates, BPA, and pesticides in school meals

BackgroundExposure to phthalates, adipates, bisphenol-A (BPA), and pesticides may have important health consequences for children, but little is known regarding their presence in school meals, a major food source for children. The aims of this study were to determine the presence of phthalates, adipates, BPA, and pesticides in school meals. MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, n = 50 school meal components were collected from four school districts in New England (n = 8 elementary/K-8 schools) differing preparation methods (on-site scratch cooking and pre-packaged heat and serve meals with plastic films) between 2019 and 2021. Meal components were tested for the presence of phthalates, adipates, BPA, and pesticides by an independent laboratory. ResultsOne adipate, DEHA, was detected in 42% of samples (range 0.08 mg/kg - 50.39 mg/kg). Among the prepackaged foods, DEHA was detected in 86% of samples, which also contained the highest average concentrations among all the samples tested. The phthalate Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) was detected in only one sample, and BPA was not detected in any of the samples tested. Pesticides were detected in 64% of produce and 27% of entrées, but most had levels that were lower than the average levels detected by the USDA's Pesticide Data Program and only one sample had levels that exceeded those detected by the USDA (Cyfluthrin levels in one sample of apples were 0.038 mg/kg compared with an USDA average range of 0.004–0.032 mg/kg). ConclusionsOverall pesticides and phthalate levels in school meals are low and BPA was not detected. However, this study suggests that manufacturers may be changing to less studied plasticizers such as DEHA. More studies should examine the impact of DEHA on human health, particularly among children. As schools transition back from the COVID-19 pandemic, foods packaged in plastic should be minimized where possible. Overall, school meals remain one of the healthiest options for children and policies that support on site cooking can further strengthen the quality of school meals.

Potential toxic phthalates and heavy metals contamination in vinegars and human health risk assessment

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) and heavy metals (HMs) are well-known contaminants due to their toxic effects on human health. Daily food consumption is one of the critical ways of exposure to these contaminants for the human population. In this study, residue profiles and levels for eight phthalate esters and four heavy metals were evaluated in polyethylene terephthalate and glass bottled vinegars from the Turkish market. PAEs and HMs were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Packaging polymers were characterized by attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FT-IR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, non-carcinogenic health risk assessment was performed based on regular vinegar consumers' daily oral intake rates. Principal component analysis was carried out to evaluate and distinguish between types of vinegar samples. Bottle type, pH, and electrical conductivity values were effective parameters, to some extent, on PAEs and HMs contents of vinegar samples. The concentration ranges were <LOD-22.8 and 0.02–970 µg L−1 PAEs and HMs, respectively. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were the most abundant PAEs, while aluminum (Al) was the predominant HMs. Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP), di(n-octyl) phthalate (DnOP), and inorganic mercury (iHg) were not detected in any sample. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment associated with vinegar consumption showed that the exposure to PAEs (ranging between 2.82 ×10−6 and 4.07 ×10−4 μg/kg bw day−1) and HMs (ranging between 2.06 ×10−5 and 5.24 ×10−2 μg/kg bw day−1) were well below the permissible limits. The findings showed that the levels of PAEs and HMs exposed through commercial vinegars were not significant enough to pose a health risk among individuals aged 18–65.

O-090 Endocrine disruptors

Abstract Female mammals, including women, are exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on a daily basis. This is of concern because many EDCs inhibit ovarian follicle growth and steroidogenesis, processes that are critical for maintaining female fertility. Our research focuses on the effects of EDCs known as phthalates on female fertility. Phthalates are of interest because they are ubiquitous synthetic chemicals used as plasticizers and stabilizers in a myriad of consumer products, including everything from shower curtains to children’s toys to cosmetics and personal care products such as perfumes, nail polish, deodorants, and lotions. Phthalates are also used in pesticides, wood finishes, adhesives, solvents, lubricants, defoaming agents, and in medical devices including tubing, blood bags, surgical gloves, and dialysis equipment. Despite the widespread use of phthalates and ubiquitous human exposure, limited information is available about the effects of environmentally relevant phthalate mixtures on female reproduction. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to an environmentally relevant phthalate mixture affects female reproduction in the F1, F2, and F3 generations of mice. To test this hypothesis, pregnant CD-1 mice were orally dosed with vehicle control (corn oil) or a phthalate mixture (20µg/kg/day-500mg/kg/day) daily from gestational day 10 to birth. The mixture was based on urinary phthalate metabolite levels measured pregnant women in the United States, and consisted of 35% diethyl phthalate, 21% di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 15% dibutyl phthalate, 15% di-isononyl phthalate, 8% diisobutyl phthalate, and 5% benzylbutyl phthalate. Adult F1 females born to these dams were used to create the F2 generation by mating them with unexposed males and F2 females were used to create the F3 generation by mating them with unexposed males. At selected times, estrous cyclicity and fertility indices were monitored and ovaries and sera were collected for analysis. Our data indicate that prenatal exposure to the phthalate mixture significantly decreases anogenital distance, testosterone levels, and litter size, but it significantly increases abnormal estrous cyclicity, uterine weight, the number of cystic ovaries, follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and luteinizing hormone levels compared to control in the F1 generation. Further, our data indicate that prenatal exposure to the phthalate mixture increases body weight, uterine weight, the number of cystic ovaries, and time to pregnancy and it decreases testosterone levels compared to control in the F2 generation. In addition, our data indicate that prenatal exposure to the phthalate mixture increases body weight, uterine weight, the number of cystic ovaries, and abnormal cyclicity and it decreases anogenital distance and the number of live pups compared to control in the F3 generation. Collectively, these data suggest that prenatal exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates adversely affects reproductive function in a multi- and transgenerational manner in female mice. These findings have increased our understanding of the mechanisms by which EDCs cause female reproductive toxicity. This information eventually may lead to the development of novel targets for the prevention or treatment of infertility induced by EDCs.

Longitudinal association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with pubertal progression among a cohort of boys

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have reported associations of anti-androgenic phthalate metabolite concentrations with later onset of male puberty, but few have assessed associations with progression. ObjectivesWe examined the association of prepubertal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations with trajectories of pubertal progression among Russian boys. MethodsAt enrollment (ages 8–9 years), medical history, dietary, and demographic information were collected. At entry and annually to age 19 years, physical examinations including testicular volume (TV) were performed and spot urines collected. Each boy's prepubertal urine samples were pooled, and 15 phthalate metabolites were quantified by isotope dilution LC-MS/MS at Moscow State University. Metabolites of anti-androgenic parent phthalates were included: butylbenzyl (BBzP), di-n-butyl (DnBP), diisobutyl (DiBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP) and diisononyl (DiNP) phthalates. We calculated the molar sums of DEHP, DiNP, and all AAP metabolites. We used group-based trajectory models (GBTMs) to identify subgroups of boys who followed similar pubertal trajectories from ages 8–19 years based on annual TV. We used multinomial and ordinal regression models to evaluate whether prepubertal log-transformed phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with slower or faster pubertal progression trajectories, adjusting for covariates. Results304 boys contributed a total of 752 prepubertal urine samples (median 2, range: 1–6) for creation of individual pools. The median length of follow-up was 10.0 years; 79% of boys were followed beyond age 15. We identified three pubertal progression groups: slower (34%), moderate (43%), and faster (23%) progression. A standard deviation increase in urinary log-monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations was associated with higher adjusted odds of being in the slow versus faster pubertal progression trajectory (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.06–2.04). None of the other phthalate metabolites were associated with pubertal progression. ConclusionsOn average, boys with higher concentrations of prepubertal urinary MBzP had a slower tempo of pubertal progression, perhaps attributable to the disruption of androgen-dependent biological pathways.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and gender-specific play behavior at seven years of age in the SELMA study

BackgroundA growing body of evidence shows that prenatal exposure to phthalates affects child development. Since many phthalates have been shown to alter endocrine signaling, they may influence reproductive development, neurodevelopment, and child behavior. Indeed, a few studies reported associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and gender-specific play behavior. However, evidence for this relationship is limited, and previous findings are based on single phthalates, while human exposure entails mixtures of chemicals. ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the associations between prenatal exposure to single phthalates, as well as a phthalate mixture, and gender-specific play behavior. MethodsA total of 715 mother–child pairs from the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and Child, Asthma and Allergy (SELMA) study were included. In the median week 10 of pregnancy, phthalate metabolites were measured in urine. Gender-specific play behavior was measured with Preschool Activities Inventory at the age of seven years. Linear and weighted quantile sum regressions were used; data was stratified by sex. Models were adjusted for child and maternal age, maternal education, parental attitudes toward play behavior, and urinary creatinine concentration. ResultsFor boys, single compound analyses revealed negative associations of prenatal exposure to di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) concentrations with masculine (β = −1.44; 95% CI = −2.72, −0.16) and composite (β = −1.43; 95% CI = −2.72, −0.13) scores. Suggestive associations were also observed with a mixture approach identifying DINP as the main contributor of the association of decreased masculine play. Among girls, higher urinary concentrations of 2,4-methyl-7-oxyooctyl-oxycarbonyl-cyclohexane carboxylic acid (MOiNCH) was associated with decreased feminine (β = −1.59; 95% CI = −2.62, −0.57) and masculine scores (β = −1.22; 95% CI = −2.14, −0.29), whereas the mixture analyses did not yield conclusive results for girls. ConclusionOur findings suggest associations of prenatal exposure to DINP with decreased masculine play behavior in boys while the results for girls were not fully conclusive.

Thermal Hydrolysis Pretreatment Effects on Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and Microbial Communities in Wastewater Sludge from Anaerobic Digestion

Concerns regarding endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater treatment plant effluents have led to the need to better understand their fate during various treatment processes. The thermal hydrolysis process (THP) is a growing technology; this article aims to better understand the impacts of THP on EDCs. Serum bottles were used to understand how the THP of anaerobically digested wastewater influences concentrations of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and antimicrobials. The succession of DNA-based microbial community was followed to assess conditions of contaminant biotransformation. Sludge samples were collected at different locations, placed in 250 mL serum bottles, and inoculated with samples collected from the anaerobic digestion solid recycle line to compare the influence of the THP pretreatment. Bottles were covered, kept at 37°C, and agitated for 22 days, with periodic destructive sampling for the chemical analysis of antimicrobials, PAEs, and transformation products, as well as the microbial community structure. Results demonstrated an increase in the concentrations of triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), and their transformation products with and without THP pretreatment. 2,4-Dichlorophenol increased at a significantly higher rate in pretreated sludge, while the TCC concentrations increased significantly faster in untreated sludge. Pretreatment did not significantly influence the formation rates of TCS and methyl triclosan. Pretreatment impacts on phthalate concentrations varied. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate decreased and diisononyl phthalate concentrations were unchanged. Benzyl butyl phthalate increased in sludge that had undergone pretreatment and decreased in sludge without. PAE metabolites generally increased during the course of the experiments. Results demonstrate the potential for complex transformation processes and indicate the ability of THP to influence concentrations of certain compounds of concern. Analysis of the microbial community structure did not demonstrate any statistically significant difference between sludge with pretreatment and sludge without over the course of the experiment. These results indicate that changes in chemical concentrations could be due to other physicochemical mechanisms not examined.

Appraisal of the Temporospatial Migration and Potential Ecotoxicity of Phthalic Acid Esters in Municipal Effluents, Rivers and Dam—A Catchment-Wide Assessment

Herein, the catchment-wide temporal dynamics and potential ecotoxicological risk of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in aquatic ecosystems were assessed. Specifically, water samples were collected for a period of six consecutive months from seven selected sites, i.e., covering both dry and wet seasons for seasonal variabilities. The appraised PAEs comprised dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), diphenyl phthalate (DPP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP)) in municipal wastewater effluents, rivers and dam. Their concentrations were quantified using a gas chromatography–flame ionisation detector (GC–FID) via the liquid–liquid extraction mode. The appraised PAEs were ubiquitous in the selected sampling points, with DBP being the most abundant PAE homologue throughout the assessed localities. In particular, quantifiable concentrations were 18.9, 37.9 and 11.5 μg/L for DBP in wastewater effluents, rivers and the dam catchment, respectively, and for overall Σ10PAEs of minimum, mean and maximum of 0.492, 3.6 ± 9.82 and 63.2 μg/L, respectively. In addition, PAE concentrations in the effluents, rivers, and dam samples showed no significant differences with p &lt; 0.05. The overall prominent sequence for ∑PAEs registered: 53.3 &gt; 10.1 &gt; 10.0 &gt; 9.8 &gt; 4.3 &gt; 2.5 &gt; 1.8 &gt; 1.7 &gt; 1.1 &gt; 0.9% for DBP &gt; DEHP &gt; DiDP &gt; DOP &gt; DHP &gt; DPP &gt; BBP &gt; DMP &gt; DEP &gt; DiNP, respectively. The ecotoxicological risk assessment (risk quotient method) showed that DBP and DiDP posed high risk (RQ ≥ 1), and DOP, DEHP, DHP, DiNP and BBP posed median risk to aquatic organisms (0.1 ≤ RQ &lt; 1), while the risk from DMP and DEP was minimal (RQ &lt; 0.1). Additionally, DBP, DEHP, DOP, DPP and DiDP were higher than the water criterion (3 μg/L) of PAEs recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the protection of aquatic life. Findings from this study should go a long way in guiding regulators, custodians and catchment management forums, along with interested and affected parties, regarding the status and potential ecotoxicological effects of PAEs in the receiving environment.

A survey of phthalates in flavored olive oils from Turkey

Phthalates are organic contaminants that are used as plasticizers in many plastic food packaging materials. Because of their lipophilic character, oils are the primary source of human exposure to phthalates. In this study, the presence of five phthalate esters; diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in olive oils flavored with different materials and marketed in Turkey in 2020 was determined. The samples included BBP, DINP, DIDP at lower concentrations than their LOQ. DEHP was the most abundant phthalate in all samples at varying concentrations between &lt; LOQ to 1.81 mg/kg. The highest amount of DEHP was found in the oil sample flavored with bergamot (1.81 mg/kg). DBP was detected in 9 of the 25 samples at concentrations from 0.11 to 0.27 mg/kg.

Determination of phthalate in PVC food wrap by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Toxic phthalates that can be released from food packaging into food are currently a matter of concern, affecting consumers&amp;rsquo; health. However, in Vietnam, no studies have been published on this group of substances in food packaging and films. In this research, a method for the simultaneous determination of 7 typical phthalates, including benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) in food wrap samples by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using internal standards has been developed and validated. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for all substances was 0.03 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg, respectively. The recoveries of the method were in the range of 82-105%. Relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 5.6 to 7.5%. The method has been applied effectively to analyze the content of phthalates in 35 food wrap samples that were collected from markets in Hanoi. Analytical results showed that ten samples were detected with phthalates, of which three samples contained DEHA exceeding the specific migration limit (SML). This study contributes to consumer health protection and advises the regulatory agency on the addition of safety regulations for PVC food wrap in particular and other food packaging materials in general.

Ultrauniform Ru Nanoclusters as Efficient Hydrogenation Catalysts for Phthalates

Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) ester, a kind of environmental-friendly plasticizer, can be produced by phthalates hydrogenation. However, the synthesis of catalysts with high activity and selectivity is a challenge due to the stability of aromatic rings. In this work, a series of ultrauniform Ru nanoclusters supported by γ-Al2O3 are synthesized for the hydrogenation of diisononyl phthalate (DINP). Results show that the conversion of DINP and the selectivity of diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) both reach 100% at 140 °C and 3 MPa H2 pressure. Diisononyl-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylate (4H-DINP) and 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate-7-methyloctyl ester are found; the hydrogenation reaction network of DINP is constructed. Alkali metal ions adsorbed on the surface of Ru nanoclusters prepared by the polyol method can stabilize Ru3+-Hδ− species by electrostatic interaction, thus affecting the hydrogenation activity of the catalyst, following the order of Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Cs+. Ru-based catalysts prepared by the polyol method have good prospects for application in phthalates hydrogenation.

Releases of micropollutants from building surface materials into rainwater and snowmelt induced runoff

Building surface materials, exposed to wash-off by rainwater or snowmelt, are recognised as one of the significant urban diffuse pollution sources contributing to the impairment of stormwater quality. The pollution conveyed by roof runoff originates from two potential sources, migration of surface material constituents, or wash-off of pollutants deposited on the surface by atmospheric deposition. This study investigated the releases of metals and several groups of contaminants of emerging concern: alkylphenols, alkylphenol ethoxylates, and phthalates, from commercially available materials, which are commonly used on buildings and structure surfaces in the urban environment. The materials tested included the following: metal sheets of stainless steel, copper, zinc, galvanised steel, corten steel, corrugated and coated steel, coated zinc; and bitumen-based roofing felt and shingles, as well as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from two manufacturers. The stainless steel was considered a control material serving to estimate pollutant contributions deposited on the pilot panels from the surrounding environment. Moreover, this study presents novel data on roof snowmelt induced runoff quality, not reported in the previous literature. The experimental setup consisted of 2-m2 rectangular panels mounted in triplicates of each material and placed in an open-air setting on the campus of Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. Runoff leaving the gently sloping material panels was collected during 11 rain and three snowmelt driven runoff events occurring over a five-year period. The results showed that, in general, the micropollutant concentrations and loads were lower in snowmelt than rain induced runoff, and no decreasing trend was detected in the releases of phthalates or metals during the study period. Moreover, on a yearly basis, copper sheets were estimated to release 0.6 g/m2 Cu to runoff, zinc and galvanised sheets 1.3 and 0.7 g/m2 Zn, respectively, and, PVC sheets were estimated to release up to 78 mg/m2 of diisononyl phthalate (DINP).