Phthalates & Plasticizers
Also known as: DEHP · DBP · BBP · DiNP · DINP · Diethyl phthalate
Overview
Phthalates are a family of chemical plasticizers added to PVC and other plastics to make them flexible. They are not chemically bound to the plastic matrix and leach continuously into food, water, air, and the body. They are among the most ubiquitous synthetic chemicals in the human body and are detected in virtually all PBMC samples. As potent anti-androgens, phthalates are a leading contributor to the global decline in male testosterone levels and sperm counts documented over the past 50 years.
Primary Sources
Food packaging and containers (especially fatty foods), medical devices (IV tubing, blood bags), personal care products (fragrances, nail polish, hair spray), vinyl flooring and wall coverings, children's toys, pharmaceutical coatings.
Health Effects
Anti-androgenic endocrine disruption (suppression of testosterone synthesis), male reproductive toxicity (reduced sperm count, motility, and morphology), testicular dysgenesis syndrome, precocious puberty in girls, thyroid disruption, obesity, insulin resistance, and immune modulation.
Detection Method
This toxin is detected and quantified using HRMS (LC or GC) analysis of isolated PBMCs. The intracellular accumulation of this compound in lymphocytes and monocytes provides a more accurate reflection of chronic systemic burden than conventional serum or urine testing.