Health risk of phthalates in water environment: Occurrence in water resources, bottled water, and tap water, and burden of disease from exposure through drinking water in tehran, Iran

Degradation of Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalic acid plasticizer in baijiu by a foam titanium flow reactor attached with hairpin-like structured peptide enzyme mimics

Because of the significant environmental and health hazards imposed by di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, developing safe and green techniques to degrade DEHP plasticizer is of huge scientific significance. It has been observed that environmental contamination of DEHP may also induce serious food safety problems because crops raised in plasticizers contaminated soils would transfer the plasticizer into foods, such as Baijiu. Additionally, when plastic packaging or vessels are used during Baijiu fermentation and processing, plasticizer compounds frequently migrate and contaminate the product. In this study, hairpin-like structured peptides with catalytically active sites containing serine, histidine and aspartic acid were found to degrade DEHP. Furthermore, after incorporating caffeic acid molecules at the N-terminus, the peptides could be attached onto foam titanium (Ti) surfaces via enediol-metal interactions to create an enzyme-mimicking flow reactor for the degradation of DEHP in Baijiu. The structure and catalytic activity of peptides, their interaction with DEHP substrate and the hydrolysis mechanism of DEHP were discussed in this work. The stability and reusability of the peptide-modified foam Ti flow reactor were also investigated. This approach provides an effective technique for the degradation of plasticizer compounds.

Occurrence and combined exposure of phthalate esters in urban soil, surface dust, atmospheric dustfall, and commercial food in the semi-arid industrial city of Lanzhou, Northwest China

A total of 138 samples including urban soil, surface dust, atmospheric dustfall, and commercial food were collected from the semi-arid industrial city of Lanzhou in Northwest China, and 22 phthalate esters (PAEs) were analyzed in these samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the pollution characteristics, potential sources, and combined exposure risks of PAEs. The results showed that the total concentration of 22 PAEs (Ʃ22PAEs) presented surface dust (4.94 × 104 ng/g) ≫ dustfall (1.56 × 104 ng/g) ≫ food (2.14 × 103 ng/g) ≫ urban soil (533 ng/g). Di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP), di-isobutyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-isononyl phthalate/di-isodecyl phthalate were predominant in the environmental media and commercial food, being controlled by priority (52.1%-65.5%) and non-priority (62.1%) PAEs, respectively. Elevated Ʃ22PAEs in the urban soil and surface dust was found in the west, middle, and east of Lanzhou. Principal component analysis indicated that PAEs the urban soil and surface dust were related with the emissions of products containing PAEs, atmosphere depositions, and traffic and industrial emissions. PAEs in the foods were associated with the growth and processing environment. The health risk assessment of United States Environmental Protection Agency based on the Chinese population exposure parameters indicated that the total exposure dose of 22 PAEs was from 0.111 to 0.226 mg/kg/day, which were above the reference dose (0.02 mg/kg/day) and tolerable daily intake (TDI, 0.05 mg/kg/day) for DEHP (0.0333-0.0631 mg/kg/day), and TDI (0.01 mg/kg/day) for DNBP (0.0213-0.0405 mg/kg/day), implying that the exposure of PAEs via multi-media should not be ignored; the total non-carcinogenic risk of six priority PAEs was below 1 for the three environmental media (1.21 × 10-5-2.90 × 10-3), while close to 1 for food (4.74 × 10-1-8.76 × 10-1), suggesting a potential non-carcinogenic risk of human exposure to PAEs in food; the total carcinogenic risk of BBP and DEHP was below 1 × 10-6 for the three environmental media (9.13 × 10-10-5.72 × 10-7), while above 1 × 10-4 for DEHP in food (1.02 × 10-4), suggesting a significantly carcinogenic risk of human exposure to DEHP in food. The current research results can provide certain supports for pollution and risk prevention of PAEs.

Role of formyl peptide receptor 2 in steatosis of L02 cells exposed to Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) can accumulate in the liver and then lead to hepatic steatosis, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Inflammation plays an important role in the disorder of hepatic lipid metabolism. This study aims to clarify the role of the inflammatory response mediated by formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) in steatosis of L02 cells exposed to MEHP. L02 cells were exposed to MEHP of different concentrations and different time. A steatosis model of L02 cells was induced with oleic acid and the cells were exposed to MEHP simultaneously. In addition, L02 cells were incubated with FPR2 antagonist and then exposed to MEHP. Lipid accumulation was determined by oil red O staining and extraction assay. The indicators related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response were measured with appropriate kits. The relative expression levels of FPR2 and its ligand were determined by Western blot, and the interaction of them was detected by co-immunoprecipitation. As a result, MEHP exposure could promote the occurrence and progression of steatosis and the secretion of chemokines and inflammatory factors in L02 cells. MEHP could also affect the expression and activation of FPR2 and the secretion of FPR2 ligands. In addition, the promotion effect of MEHP on the secretion of total cholesterol and interleukin 1β in L02 cells could be significantly inhibited by the FPR2 antagonist. We concluded that FPR2 might affect the promotion effect of MEHP on steatosis of L02 cells by mediating inflammatory response.

The concentration of phthalates in drinking water in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PAE and PC polymers, such as BPA, are utilized to make water bottles. Due to the lack of polymer-chemical interaction, PAE can enter drinking bottles during production, wrapping, and keeping. Phthalates can transfer from the bottle to the water depending on keeping conditions (temperature, time, sunlight intensity), pH, and bottle capacity. Since there haven't been previous studies published on the subject, the aim of this meta-analysis and systematic review research is to determine the level of phthalates in drinking water consumed in Iranian cities. Web of Science, Science of Direct, Scopus, and PubMed, databases have been used in this study. Eight studies were selected from 556 initial publications after screening for duplication and irrelevant information. Articles from January 1, 2000, to February 10, 2024, were found in the mentioned databases. Among the types of phthalates, the concentration of DEHP was reported higher than the others Because its concentration has been reported in seven out of eight studies. The highest concentration of DEHP was reported by Mehraie(2.22 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.8 µg/l), Yousefi (0.77 µg/l), Abtahi (0.76 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.42 µg/l), Abdolahnejad(0.15 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.08 µg/l). The highest concentration of DEP, DBP, BBP, and PA was reported by Abtahi (0.77 µg/l) and Esteki (2.25 µg/l), Mehraie(0.93 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.83 µg/l). The results of this study showed that the most important phthalates measured in drinking water include DEP, DEHP, DBP, BBP, and PA. According to the results of the present studies, the most important factor in the increase of phthalates is the storage conditions of drinking water (temperature, sunlight, and the type of pipe or bottle).

Occurrence, migration and health risks of fluorescent whitening agents and phthalates in bottled water

The occurrence and health risks of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) in bottled water were reported for the first time. FWA184 and FWA393 were the most frequently detected FWAs, with mean concentrations of 3.99-17.00 ng L-1. Phthalates (PAEs) such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were prevalent in bottled water, with mean levels of 40.89-716.66 ng L-1, and their concentrations in bottled water were much higher than those of FWAs. FWAs and PAEs in bottles and caps were extracted using organic solvent, and the correlation analysis showed that FWA393 and DEHP most likely originated from bottles, while bottle caps were the main sources of DBP and DiBP. The calculated risk quotients (RQs) of target substances and all age groups were considerably lower than the threshold of 0.1, indicating that consuming bottled water containing these plastic additives was unlikely to pose health risks for people of all ages. However, RQ values for underage people were several times higher than those for adults and hence cannot be neglected; therefore, special attention should be paid to understand the potential risks posed by the exposure to these plastic additives during early life stages, especially the infant stage.

Phthalate ester levels in agricultural soils of greenhouses, their potential sources, the role of plastic cover material, and dietary exposure calculated from modeled concentrations in tomato

Soil samples collected from 50 greenhouses (GHs) cultivated with tomatoes (plastic-covered:24, glass-covered:26), 5 open-area tomato growing farmlands, and 5 non-agricultural areas were analyzed in summer and winter seasons for 13 PAEs. The total concentrations (Σ13PAEs) in the GHs ranged from 212 to 2484 ng/g, wheeas the concentrations in open-area farm soils were between 240 and 1248 ng/g. Σ13PAE in non-agricultural areas was lower (35.0 - 585 ng/g). PAE exposure through the ingestion of tomatoes cultivated in GH soils and associated risks were estimated with Monte Carlo simulations after calculating the PAE concentrations in tomatoes using a partition-limited model. DEHP was estimated to have the highest concentrations in the tomatoes grown in both types of GHs. The mean carcinogenic risk caused by DEHP for tomato grown in plastic-covered GHs, glass-covered GHs, and open-area soils were 2.4 × 10-5, 1.7 × 10-5 and 1.1 × 10-5, respectively. Based on Positive Matrix Factorization results, plastic material usage in GHs (including plastic cover material source for plastic-GHs) was found to be the highest contributing source in both types of GHs. Microplastic analysis indicated that the ropes and irrigation pipes inside the GHs are important sources of PAE pollution. Pesticide application is the second highest contributing source.

Prediction of HC5s for phthalate esters by use of the QSAR-ICE model and ecological risk assessment in Chinese surface waters

Due to their endocrine-disrupting effects and the risks posed in surface waters, in particular by chronic low-dose exposure to aquatic organisms, phthalate esters (PAEs) have received significant attention. However, most assessments of risks posed by PAEs were performed at a selection level, and thus limited by empirical data on toxic effects and potencies. A quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) and interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) model was constructed to estimate hazardous concentrations (HCs) of selected PAEs to aquatic organisms, then they were used to conduct a multiple-level environmental risk assessment for PAEs in surface waters of China. Values of hazardous concentration for 5% of species (HC5s), based on acute lethality, estimated by use of the QSAR-ICE model were within 1.25-fold of HC5 values derived from empirical data on toxic potency, indicating that the QSAR-ICE model predicts the toxicity of these three PAEs with sufficient accuracy. The five selected PAEs may be commonly measured in China surface waters at concentrations between ng/L and μg/L. Risk quotients according to median concentrations of the five PAEs ranged from 3.24 for di(2-ethylhexhyl) phthalate (DEHP) to 4.10 × 10-3 for dimethyl phthalate (DMP). DEHP and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) had risks to the most vulnerable aquatic biota, with the frequency of exceedances of the predicted no-effect concentration (PNECs) of 75.5% and 38.0%, respectively. DEHP and DBP were identified as having "high" or "moderate" risks. Results of the joint probability curves (JPC) method indicated DEHP posed "intermediate" risk to freshwater species with a maximum risk product of 5.98%. The multiple level system introduced in this study can be used to prioritize chemicals and other new pollutant in the aquatic ecological.

Pollution characteristics, sources, and health risks of phthalate esters in ambient air: A daily continuous monitoring study in the central Chinese city of Nanchang

In recent years, the atmospheric pollution caused by phthalate esters (PAEs) has been increasing due to the widespread use of PAE-containing materials. Existing research on atmospheric PAEs lacks long-term continuous observation and samples from cities in central China. To investigate the pollution characteristics, sources, and health risks of PAEs in the ambient air of a typical city in central China, daily PM2.5 samples were collected in Nanchang from November 2020 to October 2021. In this study, the detection and quantification of six significant PAE contaminants, namely diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), were accomplished using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results revealed that the concentrations of DEP, DnBP, DEHP, and DnOP were relatively high. Higher temperatures promote the volatilization of PAEs, leading to an increase in the gaseous and particulate PAE concentrations in warm seasons and winter pollution scenarios. The results of principal component analysis show that PAEs mainly come from volatile products and polyvinylchloride plastics. Using positive matrix factorization analysis, it is shown that these two sources contribute 67.0% and 33.0% in atmosphere PAEs, respectively. Seasonally, the contribution of volatile products to both gaseous and particulate PAEs substantially increases during warm seasons. The residents in Nanchang exposed to PAEs have a negligible non-cancer risk and a potential low cancer risk. During the warm seasons, more PAEs are emitted into the air, which will increase the toxicity of PAEs and their impact on human health.

Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment of Phthalates in Municipal Drinking Water Supply of a Central Indian City

In this study, the occurrence of phthalates in the municipal water supply of Nagpur City, India, was studied for the first time. The study aimed to provide insights into the extent of phthalate contamination and identify potential sources of contamination in the city's tap water. We analyzed fifteen phthalates and the total concentration (∑15phthalates) ranged from 0.27 to 76.36 µg L-1. Prominent phthalates identified were di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), and di-nonyl phthalate (DNP). Out of the fifteen phthalates analyzed, DEHP showed the highest concentration in all the samples with the median concentration of 2.27 µg L-1, 1.39 µg L-1, 1.83 µg L-1, 2.02 µg L-1, respectively in Butibori, Gandhibaag, Civil Lines, and Kalmeshwar areas of the city. In 30% of the tap water samples, DEHP was found higher than the EPA maximum contaminant level of 6 µg L-1. The average daily intake (ADI) of phthalates via consumption of tap water was higher for adults (median: 0.25 µg kg-1 day-1) compared to children (median: 0.07 µg kg-1 day-1). The hazard index (HI) calculated for both adults and children was below the threshold level, indicating no significant health risks from chronic toxic risk. However, the maximum carcinogenic risk (CR) for adults (8.44 × 10-3) and children (7.73 × 10-3) was higher than the threshold level. Knowledge of the sources and distribution of phthalate contamination in municipal drinking water is crucial for effective contamination control and management strategies.

Pollution characteristics and affecting factors of phthalate esters in agricultural soils in mainland China

Phthalate esters (PAEs), the most commonly produced and used plasticizers, are widely used in plastic products and agroecosystems, posing risks to agricultural products and human health. However, current research on PAE pollution characteristics in agricultural soils in China is not comprehensive; affecting factors and relationships with microplastics and plasticizer organophosphate esters have not been sufficiently considered. In this study, farmland soil samples were collected with field questionnaires on a national scale across mainland China. The results showed that the detection rate of PAEs was 100% and the Σ16PAEs concentrations were 23.5 - 903 μg/kg. The level of PAEs was highest in the greenhouse, and significantly higher than that in mulched farmland (p < 0.05). The PAE concentration in northwestern China was the lowest among different physical geographic zones. PAEs in farmlands posed a low cancer risk to Chinese people. PAE pollution in farmlands was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by agronomic measures (such as disposal method), environmental factors, and socioeconomic factors. Overall, PAEs were significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with organophosphate esters but not with microplastics. This study aims to provide scientific data for relevant prevention and control policies, as well as actionable recommendations for pollution reduction.

Exposure risk assessment of representative phthalate acid esters and associated plastic debris under the agricultural land use in typical Chinese regions

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are frequently detected in the global environment and can cause potential health hazards. In this study, quantitative exposure risk assessment was undertaken to derive soil generic assessment criteria (GAC) for six representative PAEs under the agricultural land use in the evaluated Chinese regions, which coupled multi-media transport and human exposure models based on multiple exposure pathways including vegetables consumption, dermal absorption, ingestion of soil and dust, and the exposure from non-soil sources. It is identified that the PAEs in agricultural soil are dominated by DEHP and DnBP representing 72-96% of the total PAEs. The GAC for BBP and DEHP, calculated on the basis of region-specific exposure parameters and soil properties in various locations, are stringent, signifying greater potential health risks from exposure to them, warranting more rigorous contamination management. The proposed soil GAC for plastic debris are 100, 107, 73 and 88 mg kg-1 for Heilongjiang Province, Beijing City, Jiangsu and Guangdong Provinces respectively. Additionally, the potential risks of 1.68 × 10-6 and 7 × 10-6 are identified for BBP and DEHP in Guangdong Province as indicated by the exceedance of target risk level of 1 × 10-6, with the consumption of vegetables being the dominant contributor to the total estimated PAEs exposure. Overall, this methodology based on the coupled contaminant transport and exposure models incorporating region-specific data provides a technical framework to derive science-based soil GAC for representative PAEs for maintaining and assessing soil quality and food safety under the agricultural land use.

Pollution characteristics and health risk of sixty-five organics in one drinking water system: PAEs should be prioritized for control

Currently, a large number of emerging organic contaminants have been detected in domestic and international drinking water systems. However, there are differences among the research methods, which lead to system errors in directly comparing the hazards of different contaminants, so it is difficult to analyze the priority control pollutants and the risk control target in drinking water from previous studies. Therefore, we selected a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) in the east of China, and detected trihalomethanes (THMs), antibiotics, phthalate esters (PAEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a total of sixty-five organic contaminants in one batch water sample of four seasons, and carried out the whole process monitoring of "Source water-DWTP-Network-Users", and calculated the health risks of contaminants in tap water. The results showed that DWTP could effectively remove antibiotics and PAEs; the removal rate of coagulation for antibiotics can be up to 47%; the release of PAEs in the plastic water supply pipe leads to a significant increase of the concentrations in the water transportation system, which can reach 2.92 times of that in finished water; compared with other contaminants, THMs and PAEs in tap water have higher health risks. This study reveals that THMs and PAEs are priority control organic pollutants, and the water supply network is the key risk control target in the drinking water system, providing a theoretical basis for how to ensure the safety of drinking water.

Occurrence, ecological and health risk assessment of phthalates in a polluted urban river used for agricultural land irrigation in central Mexico

The escalating global concern on phthalate esters (PAEs) stems from their status as emerging contaminants, marked by their toxicity and their potential to harm both the environment and human health. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence, spatial distribution, and ecological and health risks associated with PAEs in the Atoyac River, an urban waterway in central Mexico that receives untreated and poorly treated urban and industrial wastewater. Of the 14 PAEs analyzed in surface water samples collected along the river mainstream, nine were detected and quantified by GC-MS. The concentration of each detected PAE ranged from non-detected values to 25.7 μg L-1. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP) were detected in all sampling sites, with concentrations ranging from 8.1 to 19.4 μg L-1 and from 6.3 to 15.6 μg L-1, respectively. The cumulative Σ9PAEs concentrations reached up to 81.1 μg L-1 and 96.0 μg L-1 in sites downstream to high-tech industrial parks, pinpointing industrial wastewater as the primary source of PAEs. Given that the river water is stored in a reservoir and used for cropland irrigation, this study also assessed the ecological and human health risks posed by PAEs. The findings disclosed a high ecological risk to aquatic organisms exposed to di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), DEHP, and DnHP. Additionally, a high carcinogenic (CR > 10-4) and noncarcinogenic (HQ > 10) risk for the DEHP exposure through ingestion of crops irrigated with river water was identified for both children and adults. These data on PAEs provide valuable insights for the Mexican government's future strategies in regulating these pollutants in water bodies, thereby minimizing the environmental and human health risks that they pose.

Occurrence and health risk assessment of phthalates in a typical estuarine soil: A case study of the various functional areas of the Yellow River Delta

In recent years, the extensive distribution of phthalates (PAEs) in soils has attracted increasing attention. In this study, the concentrations of six types of PAEs were measured in five dissimilar regions of the Yellow River Delta (YRD), and regional differences, pollution characteristics and health risks of PAEs pollution were investigated. The detection rate of PAEs was 100 %, and the concentration range of Σ6PAEs was 0.709-9.565 mg/kg, with an average of 3.258 ± 2.031 mg/kg. There were different spatial distribution differences of PAEs in soils of the YRD, with residential living, chemical industrial, and crop growing areas being the main areas of PAEs distribution. It was worth noting that di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) are prominent contributors to PAEs in soils of the YRD. Correlation analyses showed that soils physicochemical properties such as SOM, TN and CEC were closely correlated to the transport and transformation of PAEs. Use by petrochemical industries, accumulation of plasticizers, additives (derived from cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical), fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, and atmospheric deposition are the principal sources of PAEs in the YRD. A health risk assessment showed that the health risk caused by non-dietary intake of PAEs was low and considered acceptable. PAEs pollution in the YRD soil is particularly noteworthy, especially for the prevention and control of DEHP and DBP pollution. This study provides basic data for an effective control of soil PAEs pollution in the YRD, which is conducive to the sustainable development of the region.

Influence of leachate microenvironment on the occurrence of phthalate esters in landfills

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are added to various products as plasticizers. Plastic waste containing PAEs enters landfills as they age with use. However, the influence of microenvironmental changes on the occurrence of PAEs during landfill stabilization is still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of leachate, the structure of bacterial communities and the chemical structure of dissolved organic matter (DOM), and the occurrence of PAEs and the mechanism underlying their responses to changes. Landfill leachate in different stabilization states had high Cl- and NH4+ contents and its metal element (Cr, Pb, and Zn) contents generally decreased with the increase in landfill ages. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were important phyla and had an average relative abundance of 68.63%. The lignin/carboxylate-rich alicyclic molecule structure was the main component of DOM (56%-64%). Of the 6-priority controlled PAEs in leachate, di-n-butyl phthalate was the most abundant (1046 μg L-1), while butyl phthalate was not detected. The results showed that pH, the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, and the value of SUVA254 can directly influence the occurrence of PAEs in leachate. The positive and negative effects vary depending on the PAE content and molecular weight. DBP and DEHP have higher environmental risks in the aquatic system. These results are intended to provide a scientific basis for the evolutionary characterization of the microenvironment in complex environmental systems and the control of novel contaminants, such as PAEs.

Seasonal distribution characteristics and ecological risk assessment of phthalate esters in surface sediment of Songhua River basin

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are typical industrial chemicals used in China. PAEs have received considerable attention because of their ubiquity and potential hazard to humans and the ecology. The spatiotemporal distributions of six PAEs in the surface sediments of the Songhua River in the spring (March), summer (July), and autumn (September) are investigated in this study. The total concentration of phthalic acid esters (∑6PAEs) ranges from 1.62 × 102 ng g-1 dry weight (dw) to 3.63 × 104 ng g-1·dw, where the amount in the spring is substantially higher (p < 0.01) than those in the autumn and summer. Seasonal variations in PAEs may be due to rainfall and temperature. The ∑6PAEs in the Songhua River's upper reaches are significantly higher than those in the middle and lower reaches (p < 0.05). Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are the two most abundant PAEs. The ecological hazard of five PAEs is assessed using the hazard quotient method. DBP and DEHP pose moderate or high ecological risks to aquatic organisms at various trophic levels. PAEs originate primarily from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources. Absolute principal components-multiple linear regression results indicate that agricultural sources are the most dominant contributor to the ∑6PAEs (53.7%). Guidelines for controlling PAEs pollution in the Songhua River are proposed.

Worldwide risk assessment of phthalates and bisphenol A in humans: The need for updating guidelines

Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are compounds widely used as raw materials in the production of plastics, making them ubiquitous in our daily lives. This results in widespread human exposure and human health hazards. Although efforts have been conducted to evaluate the risk of these compounds in diverse regions around the world, data scattering may mask important trends that could be useful for updating current guidelines and regulations. This study offers a comprehensive global assessment of human exposure levels to these chemicals, considering dietary and nondietary ingestion, and evaluates the associated risk. Overall, the exposure daily intake (EDI) values of phthalates and BPA reported worldwide ranged from 1.11 × 10-7 to 3 700 µg kg bw-1 d-1 and from 3.00 × 10-5 to 6.56 µg kg bw-1 d-1, respectively. Nevertheless, the dose-additive effect of phthalates has been shown to increase the EDI up to 5 100 µg kg bw-1 d-1, representing a high risk in terms of noncarcinogenic (HQ) and carcinogenic (CR) effects. The worldwide HQ values of phthalates and BPA ranged from 2.25 × 10-7 to 3.66 and from 2.74 × 10-7 to 9.72 × 10-2, respectively. Meanwhile, a significant number of studies exhibit high CR values for benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Moreover, DEHP has shown the highest maximum mean CR values for humans in numerous studies, up to 179-fold higher than BBP. Despite mounting evidence of the harmful effects of these chemicals at low-dose exposure on animals and humans, most regulations have not been updated. Thus, this article emphasizes the need for updating guidelines and public policies considering compelling evidence for the adverse effects of low-dose exposure, and it cautions against the use of alternative plasticizers as substitutes for phthalates and BPA because of the significant gaps in their safety.

Butyl benzyl phthalate exposure impact on the gut health of Metaphire guillelmi

Agricultural films are extensively utilized in high-intensity agriculture, with China's annual usage reaching 1.5 million tons. Unfortunately, the recovery rate is less than 60%, leading to an inevitable accumulation of plastic mulch in agricultural soils. This accumulation primarily introduces butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) into soil ecosystems, whose specific effects remain largely unclear, thereby posing potential risks. The present study focuses on the exposure impact of BBP on earthworms, Metaphire guillelmi, a commonly found endogenic earthworm within real farmland, as it provides insight into the direct interaction between biota gut health and contaminants. Specifically, we studied the biomarkers related to oxidative stress, the digestive system, and neurotoxicity within the gut of Metaphire guillelmi, and the integrated biological response (IBR) index was utilized to track these markers at different timeframes after BBP exposures. Our findings indicate that BBP exposures lead to oxidative damage, digestive system inhibition, and neurotoxicity, with IBR indexes of 14.6 and 17.3 on the 14th and 28th days, respectively. Further, the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level through molecular docking were investigated. The results showed that the most unstable interaction was with the Na+K+-ATPase (binding energy: -2.25 kcal-1), while BBP displayed stable bonds with superoxide dismutase and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction. These interactions resulted in changes in protein conformation and their normal physiological functions, offering new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying enzymatic activity changes. This study has significant implications for the prediction of toxicity, environmental risk assessment, and the establishment of regulations related to BBP.

Microplastics and phthalate esters release from teabags into tea drink: occurrence, human exposure, and health risks

Tea, the most common infusion worldwide, is usually sold in teabags due to the ease of usage. The increase in the use of plastic materials in the food packaging industry has led to an increase in released contaminants, such as microplastics (MPs) and phthalates (PAEs), in various food products including teabags. In this research, the abundance and features of MPs as well as PAEs concentration were investigated in 45 teabag samples of different Persian and German brands. The abundance of MPs in the Persian and German teabag samples was averagely 412.32 and 147.28 items/single teabag, respectively. Also, average PAEs levels in the Persian and German teabag samples were 2.87 and 2.37 mg/g, respectively. The predominant size category of MPs was related to 100-250 μm. Fibers and transparent were the dominant shape and color of detected MPs in teabags, respectively. Polyethylene (PE) and nylon were the most common MP polymer types. The most prominent PAEs congeners in teabag samples were diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP). Furthermore, MP exposure hazard through tea ingestion was analyzed for children and adults. DEHP showed the cancer risk (CR) for children and adults. The findings of this research indicated that high MPs and PAEs levels are released from teabags into tea drinks. Considering a daily drinking of a volume of 150 and 250 mL tea by children and adults, 486 and 810 MPs may enter their bodies, respectively. Thus, tea prepared with teabag-packed herbs may pose a significant health risk for consumers.

Human health risk assessment of Triclosan in water: spatial analysis of a drinking water system

Triclosan (TCS) has been increased in the water during the COVID-19 pandemic because it cannot remove by conventional water treatment. In addition, it can accumulate in the human body over time through long-term exposure. Therefore, the occurrence of TCS in the water treatment plant (WTP) and tap water, and its human health risk assessment through tap water ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation routes in Isfahan, Iran, were investigated. Moreover, spatial regression methods were used for the prediction of water quality parameters, TCS concentration, and total hazard quotient (HQ). The average TCS concentration in the influent and effluent of WTP and tap water was 1.6, 1.4, and 0.4 μg/L, respectively. Conventional WTP has low efficiency in the removal of TCS (12.6%) from water. The average values of total HQ for males were 7.79×10-5, 4.97×10-4, and 4.97×10-5 and for females were 3.31×10-5, 2.11×10-4, and 2.11×10-5 based on RfDEPA, RfDMDH, and RfDRodricks, respectively that were in the low-risk levels (HQ<1). Furthermore, TCS concentration in tap water and the ingestion rate of drinking water had the highest effect on the risk of TCS exposure from tap water. The non-carcinogenic health risk of TCS in water was low. The results of this study may be useful for promoting WTP processes to remove emerging pollutants.

Food contaminants and potential risk of diabetes development: A narrative review

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase, especially among younger populations. Apart from genetic predisposition and lifestyle, there is increasing scientific and public concern that environmental agents may also contribute to diabetes. Food contamination by chemical substances that originate from packaging materials, or are the result of chemical reactions during food processing, is generally recognized as a worldwide problem with potential health hazards. Phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA) and acrylamide (AA) have been the focus of attention in recent years, due to the numerous adverse health effects associated with their exposure. This paper summarizes the available data about the association between phthalates, BPA and AA exposure and diabetes. Although their mechanism of action has not been fully clarified, in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological studies have made significant progress toward identifying the potential roles of phthalates, BPA and AA in diabetes development and progression. These chemicals interfere with multiple signaling pathways involved in glucose and lipid homeostasis and can aggravate the symptoms of diabetes. Especially concerning are the effects of exposure during early stages and the gestational period. Well-designed prospective studies are needed in order to better establish prevention strategies against the harmful effects of these food contaminants.

Assessment of health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in the outdoor air in Tehran, Iran

The health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in the outdoor air in Tehran, 2019 were assessed based on the data of five fixed stations with weekly BTEX measurements. The non-carcinogenic risk, carcinogenic risk, and disease burden from exposure to BTEX compounds were determined by hazard index (HI), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and disability-adjusted life year (DALY), respectively. The average annual concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in the outdoor air in Tehran were 6.59, 21.62, 4.68, and 20.88 μg/m³, respectively. The lowest seasonal BTEX concentrations were observed in spring and the highest ones occurred in summer. The HI values of BTEX in the outdoor air in Tehran by district ranged from 0.34 to 0.58 (less than one). The average ILCR values of benzene and ethylbenzene were 5.37 × 10^-5 and 1.23 × 10^-5, respectively (in the range of probable increased cancer risk). The DALYs, death, DALY rate (per 100,000 people) and death rate (per 100,000 people) induced by BTEX exposure in the outdoor air in Tehran were determined to be 180.21, 3.51, 2.07, and 0.04, respectively. The five highest attributable DALY rates in Tehran by district were observed in the districts 10 (2.60), 11 (2.43), 17 (2.41), 20 (2.32), and 9 (2.32), respectively. The corrective measures such as controlling road traffic and improving the quality of vehicles and gasoline in Tehran could reduce the burden of disease from BTEX along with the health effects of other outdoor air pollutants.

The fate of phthalate acid esters in wastewater treatment plants and their impact on receiving waters

Phthalates (PAEs) are gaining attention and being researched as an endocrine disruptor as global plastic use surge. There is an urgent need to explore the key factors affecting the removal of PAEs from wastewater and the impact of wastewater effluent on receiving water. Here we investigated the levels and distribution patterns of 16 typical PAEs in surface water and five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) along the Dongyang River from Yiwu, China, collecting 42 surface water and 31 wastewater samples. We found that influent PAEs concentration and treatment process were the key factors affecting the degradation efficiency of PAEs in primary and secondary treatment, respectively. In primary treatment, long-chain PAEs were more easily removed (and sometimes less likely to accumulate) than short-chain PAEs, regardless of the influent PAEs concentration (a key factor in primary treatment), while in secondary treatment, short-chain PAEs were easily removed regardless of the treatment process (a factor in secondary treatment). This was not the case for long-chain PAEs, which were only more readily removed in the A/A/O process. In addition, by comparing the significant differences between wastewater and surface water, we found that the total PAEs in the treated effluent were significantly lower than in surface water upstream and in built-up urban areas, indicating that wastewater discharges in the study area did not increase PAEs in the receiving water. Finally, river in the city center and artificial treatment facilities in the study area were identified as requiring priority attention. The results of this study can serve as a model for controlling PAEs in other similar developing cities in China and provide valuable information on the fate of endocrine disruptor from wastewater treatment in China and their impact on surface water.

Occurrence and ecological risks of microplastics and phthalate esters in organic solid wastes: In a landfill located nearby the Persian Gulf

Landfill sites are the main source of plastic waste. Thus, municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills may act as a reservior of microplastics (MPs) and related pollutants such as phthalate esters (PAEs) into surrounding environment. However, there is limited information on MPs and PAEs in landfill sites. Levels of MPs and PAEs in organic solid waste disposed in a landfill of Bushehr port were investigated for the first time in this study. The mean MPs and PAEs levels in organic MSW samples were 12.3 items/g and 7.99 μg/g, respectively, and the mean PAEs concentration in MPs was 87.5 μg/g. The highest number of MPs was related to the size classes of >1000 μm and <25 μm. The highest dominant type, color, and shape of MPs in organic MSW were nylon, white/transparent, and fragments, respectively. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) were the dominant compounds of PAEs in organic MSW. Based on the finding of present study, MPs showed a high hazard index (HI). DEHP, dioctyl phthalate (DOP), and DiBP demonstrated high-level hazards for sensitive organisms in water. This work illustrated considerable MPs and PAEs levels from an uncontrolled landfill without adequate protection, possibly contributing to their release into the environment. The sites of landfill located near marine environments, such as Bushehr port landfill adjacent to the Persian Gulf, may indicate critical threats to marine organisms and the food chain. Continuous landfills control and monitoring, especially the ones near the coastal area, is highly recommended to prevent further environmental pollution.

Widespread distribution of phthalic acid esters in indoor and ambient air samples collected from Hanoi, Vietnam

In the present study, distribution characteristics of ten typical phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were investigated in 90 air samples collected from the urban areas in Hanoi, Vietnam from May to August 2022. The total concentrations of PAEs in indoor and ambient air samples were in the range of 320-4770 ng/m³ and 35.9-133 ng/m³, respectively. Total concentrations of PAEs in indoor air were about one order of magnitude higher than those in ambient air. Among PAEs studied, di-(2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate (DEHP) was measured at the highest levels in all air samples, followed by di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP). The PAEs concentrations in air samples collected from laboratories at nighttime were significantly higher than those during daytime (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the distributions of PAEs in various micro-environments in the same house are no statistically significant difference. The median exposure doses of PAEs through inhalation for adults and children were 248 and 725 ng/kg-bw/d, respectively. These exposure levels were still lower than the respective reference doses (RfD) proposed by the US EPA for selected compounds such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), DnBP, and DEHP.

Method to analyze phthalate esters from soft toys dissolving into water mimicking infant playing

Along with bisphenol-A (BPA), conventional phthalate esters (PAEs) have been reported as environmental hormones, despite their functional usefulness as plasticizers. Nevertheless, they are frequently found in various products, including children's utensils and toys made of poly (vinyl chloride). This is tremendously important because PAEs are harmful to infants. In addition, gel/slime-type toys made of poly (vinyl alcohol) are currently popular for developing infant' tactile senses. In this study, we developed a method to qualitatively and quantitatively detect PAEs in gel/slime-type toys mimicking, infants playing with them in a bathtub. As a result, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), one of the PAE alternatives, transferred into the water from the toys and was detected most commonly (108-719 μg g^-1; 0.01-0.07 wt%) among PAEs. The detected DINCH levels were below the universally accepted levels for PAEs (0.1 wt%). However, the amount of DINCH detected could still be toxic, in accordance with toxicity tests using water fleas. Furthermore, unpleasant odors were emitted when the toys containing toxic volatile organic compounds were unpacked. This is the first study to develop a method to analyze PAE in gel/slime-type toys and determine that alternatives to conventional PAEs cannot be unconditionally regarded as safe chemicals. Therefore, the revised standards for regulating PAEs and their alternatives must be reconsidered.

Methodology for Effect-Based Identification of Bioconcentratable Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in Water: Establishment, Validation, and Application

Since the wide occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water is associated with various adverse effects in aquatic organisms, it is urgent to identify key bioconcentratable EDCs. Currently, bioconcentration is generally ignored during the identification of key EDCs. Thus, a methodology for effect-based identification of bioconcentratable EDCs was established in Microcosm, validated in the field, and applied to typical surface water in Taihu Lake. In Microcosm, an inverted U-shaped relationship between logBCFs and logKows was observed for typical EDCs, with medium hydrophobic EDCs (3 ≤ logKow ≤ 7) exhibiting the greatest bioconcentration potentials. On this basis, enrichment methods for bioconcentratable EDCs were established using POM and LDPE, which better fitted the bioconcentration characteristics and enabled the enrichment of 71 ± 8% and 69 ± 6% bioconcentratable compounds. The enrichment methods were validated in the field, where LDPE exhibited a more significant correlation with the bioconcentration characteristics than POM, with mean correlation coefficients of 0.36 and 0.15, respectively, which was selected for further application. By application of the new methodology in Taihu Lake, 7 EDCs were prioritized from 79 identified EDCs as key bioconcentratable EDCs on consideration of their great abundance, bioconcentration potentials, and anti-androgenic potencies. The established methodology could support the evaluation and identification of bioconcentratable contaminants.

Evaluation of Surface Properties and Separation Performance of NF and RO Membranes for Phthalates Removal

Many studies indicated that phthalates, a common plasticizer, lurk silently in water bodies and can potentially harm living organisms. Therefore, removing phthalates from water sources prior to consumption is crucial. This study aims to evaluate the performance of several commercial nanofiltrations (NF) (i.e., NF3 and Duracid) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes (i.e., SW30XLE and BW30) in removing phthalates from simulated solutions and further correlate the intrinsic properties of membranes (e.g., surface chemistry, morphology, and hydrophilicity) with the phthalates removal. Two types of phthalates, i.e., dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), were used in this work, and the effects of pH (ranging from 3 to 10) on the membrane performance were studied. The experimental findings showed that the NF3 membrane could yield the best DBP (92.5-98.8%) and BBP rejection (88.7-91.7%) regardless of pH, and these excellent results are in good agreement with the surface properties of the membrane, i.e., low water contact angle (hydrophilicity) and appropriate pore size. Moreover, the NF3 membrane with a lower polyamide cross-linking degree also exhibited significantly higher water flux compared to the RO membranes. Further investigation indicated that the surface of the NF3 membrane was severely covered by foulants after 4-h filtration of DBP solution compared to the BBP solution. This could be attributed to the high concentration of DBP presented in the feed solution owing to its high-water solubility (13 ppm) compared to BBP (2.69 ppm). Further research is still needed to study the effect of other compounds (e.g., dissolved ions and organic/inorganic matters that might be present in water) on the performance of membranes in removing phthalates.

Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of phthalate esters in agricultural soil of the Yellow River Delta, China

A total of 100 agricultural soil samples, collected in the Yellow River Delta, China, were analyzed for six U.S. Environmental Protection Agency priority phthalate esters (PAEs), focusing on the characteristics of PAEs contamination and potential health risks. The detection frequencies of ∑₆PAEs were 100%, where the concentration ranged from 1.087 to 14.391 mg·kg^-1, with a mean value of 4.149 mg·kg^-1. The most abundant PAEs were di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP). The areas with higher contents of ∑₆PAEs are distributed in the western and central parts of the Yellow River Delta region and around Laizhou Bay. PAEs in the Yellow River Delta agricultural soil were attributed to pollutant emissions from petrochemical industries, plasticizers or additives, fertilizers, and pesticides. The non-carcinogenic risk of human exposure to PAEs in agricultural soils is relatively low, but the non-carcinogenic risk is higher in children than in adults, and children are a sensitive group. Under the dietary route, both DEHP and ∑₂PAEs (BBP, and DEHP) pose some degree of carcinogenic risk to both local adults and children. Efforts must be made to enhance the prevention and control of PAEs contamination of agricultural soils in the Yellow River Delta region to reduce the potential risk to humans.

Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality From Water Coolers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The quality of drinking water is an important health issue in crowded cities, so that an adequate drinking water with good quality must be provided, hence over hundreds of water coolers are distributed in Makkah city to cope with the increasing demand for drinking water. The present study aimed to determine the chemical and microbial quality of drinking water from coolers in Makkah city. Sixty-three samples from randomly selected water coolers were tested for chemical and bacteriological quality. For all samples, the mean value of physiochemical tests of pH (7.12), TDS (152.7 ppm), turbidity (2.56 NTU), free chlorine (0.312 ppm), fluoride (0.112 ppm), chloride (25.7 ppm), bromide (0.123 ppm), nitrate (0.616 ppm), sulfate (8.36 ppm), lithium (0.134 ppm), sodium (17.6 ppm), potassium (1.42 ppm), magnesium (1.95 ppm), calcium (19.2 ppm), chromium (0.025 ppm), cadmium (0.0026 ppm), and lead (0.0244 ppm) did not exceed the reference values of the drinking water regulations. The total coliform count was detected in 3.2% of the water samples. For total coliform count, the MPN in the majority of water samples (96.8%) was excellent while for E. coli count, the MPN in all water samples (100%) was excellent. Bacteriological quality has shown that no Pseudomonas, Salmonellae, or Legionellae species contamination detected. It was concluded that, the drinking waters in coolers in Makkah city were complied with international standards and within the acceptable limit. It is worth to continue periodic inspection and maintenance for the drinking water coolers during mass gatherings.

Occurrence and seasonal variation of plasticizers in sediments and biota from the coast of Mahdia, Tunisia

Plasticizers are compounds often involved in the manufacturing of plastic products. Nevertheless, the ageing of the latter generates plasticizers that generally end up in the marine environment. In fact, marine pollution by phthalate acid esters (PAEs) and their alternatives has become an environmental and health issue of serious concern, as they are largely and ubiquitously present in the environment and aquatic organisms. In the present study, four PAEs, such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and one non-phthalate plasticizer (NPP), namely di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT), are wanted in different marine compartments from the coast of Mahdia in Tunisia such as sediment, seagrass, and mussel. The most abundant and frequently detected congener was DEHT at the concentrations reached 1.181 mg/kg in the sediment, 1.121 mg/kg in the seagrass, and 1.86 mg/kg in the mussel. This result indicates that the DEHT could emerge through the food chain and therefore bioaccumulate in marine compartments. In addition, we noticed that the seasonal variations of plasticizers were seriously affected by environmental factors including industrial and urban discharges.

Assessment of cause-specific mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) induced by exposure to inorganic arsenic through drinking water and foodstuffs in Iran

The health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through drinking water and foodstuffs in Iran were assessed. The iAs levels in drinking water and foodstuffs (15 food groups) in the country were determined through systematic review of three international databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and meta-analysis. Based on the results of the systematic review and meta-analysis, the average iAs levels in drinking water and all the food groups at the national level were lower than the maximum permissible levels. The total average non-carcinogenic risk of dietary exposure to iAs in terms of hazard index (HI) was 3.4. The average incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values of dietary exposure to iAs were determined to be 1.5 × 10^-3 for skin cancer, 1.0 × 10^-3 for lung cancer, and 4.0 × 10^-4 for bladder cancer. Over two-thirds of the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of dietary exposure to iAs was attributed to bread and cereals, drinking water, and rice. The total annual cancer incidence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), death rate, and DALY rate (per 100,000 people) were assessed to be 3347 (95 % uncertainty interval: 1791 to 5999), 1302 (697 to 2336), 72,606 (38,833 to 130,228), 1.6 (0.87 to 2.9), and 91 (49 to 160). The contribution of mortality in the attributable burden of disease was 95.1 %. The contributions of the causes in the attributable burden of disease were 72 % for lung cancer, 16 % for bladder cancer, and 12 % for skin cancer. Due to the significant attributable burden of disease, national and subnational action plans consisting of multi-disciplinary approaches for risk management of dietary exposure to iAs, especially for the higher arsenic-affected areas and high-risk population groups in the country are recommended.

Occurrences and potential lipid-disrupting effects of phthalate metabolites in humpback dolphins from the South China Sea

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, arising growing public concern. Nevertheless, information on the exposure and risks of PAEs in wildlife remains limited. Here, we conducted the first investigation of the occurrences, spatiotemporal trends, and potential risks of twelve metabolites of PAEs (mPAEs) in 74 humpback dolphins from the northern South China Sea during 2005-2020. All twelve mPAEs (∑₁₂mPAEs: 9.6-810.7 ng g^-1 wet weight) were detected in the dolphin liver, and seven major mPAEs showed increasing trends during the study period, indicating high PAE contamination in the coastal environment of South China. Monoethylhexyl phthalate accounted for over half of the ∑₁₂mPAE concentrations. The accumulation of mPAEs in the dolphins was neither age-dependent nor sex-specific. Compared to parent PAEs, mPAEs generally induced higher agonistic effects on the dolphin peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma (PPARA/G) as master regulators of lipid homeostasis. Although short-term in vitro assays revealed no significant activation of dolphin PPARA/G by tissue-relevant doses of mPAEs, long-term in vivo evidence (i.e., correlations between hepatic mPAEs and blubber fatty acids) suggested that chronic exposure to mPAEs might have impacted lipid metabolism in the dolphin. This study highlighted the potential health risks of PAE exposure on marine mammals.

Fate of phthalate esters in landfill leachate under subcritical and supercritical conditions and determination of transformation products

The hypothesis of this study is that the complex organic load of landfill leachate could be reduced by supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) in a single stage, but this operation could lead to the formation of some undesired by-products of phthalate esters (PAEs). In this context, the fate of selected PAEs, butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), was investigated during the oxidation of leachate under subcritical and supercritical conditions. Experiments were conducted at various temperatures (250-500 °C), pressures (10-35 MPa), residence times (2-18 min) and dimensionless oxidant doses (DOD: 0.2-2.3). The SCWO process decreased the leachate's chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 34,400 mg/L to 1,120 mg/L (97%). Removal efficiencies of DEHP and DNOP with longer chains were higher than BBP. The DEHP, DNOP and BBP compounds were removed in the range of -35 to 100%, -18 to 92%, and 28 to 36%, respectively, by the SCWO process. Many non-target PAEs were qualitatively detected in the raw leachate apart from the selected PAEs. Besides, 97% of total PAEs including both target and non-target PAEs was mineralized at 15 MPa, 300 °C and 5 min. Although PAEs were highly mineralized during SCWO of the leachate, aldehyde, ester, amide and amine-based phthalic substances were frequently detected as by-products. These by-products have transformed into higher molecular weight by-products with binding reactions as a result of complex SCWO process chemistry. It has also been determined that some non-target PAEs such as 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid bis(2-methylpropyl)ester and bis(2-ethylhexyl) isophthalate can transform to the DEHP. Therefore, the suggested pathway in this study for PAEs degradation during the SCWO of the leachate includes substitution and binding reactions as well as an oxidation reaction.

Source tracing and health risk assessment of phthalate esters in household tap-water: A case study of the urban area of Quanzhou, Southeast China

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 (Σ₅PAEs) for all tap water ranged from 780.0 ng/L to 9180 ng/L, while DIBP and DEHP were the most abundant congeners, accounting for 82.2% in the dry season, 89.9% in the normal season, and 89.3% in the wet season. Factors of the transferring process, such as the spatial distance from the sampling station to the water plant, the material of pipelines, and the storage time of tap water in the pipeline, affected the levels of PAE congeners in tap water from the correlation of Σ₅PAEs levels and transferring distance according to hierarchical cluster analysis. The seasonal variations in Σ₅PAEs and each congener had good agreement with the temperature, suggesting that PAEs in tap water mainly come from raw water, which should be further explored in future work. Health risk assessment of PAEs in tap water with the HQ method showed that the occurrence of DEP and DBP has no noncarcinogenic risk for adults and children, while the concentration of DEHP might cause potential noncarcinogenic risk for adults and children, which should be given considerably more attention.

Measured and Modeled Comparisons of Chemical and Microbial Contaminants in Tap and Bottled Water in a US-Mexico Border Community

Tap water quality concerns and advertisements often drive increased bottled water consumption, especially in communities with historical tap water quality problems (e.g., Nogales, Arizona). The study objective was to assess contamination of municipal tap and bottled water in Nogales, Arizona. Bottled (sealed, open/partially consumed bottles, and reusable containers for vended water) and tap water samples were collected from 30 homes and analyzed for chemical and microbial contaminants. Fisher exact tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare proportions of positive samples and contaminant concentrations between tap and bottled water samples. While none of the chemical contaminants were above MCLs, there were statistically significantly greater concentrations and proportions of positive samples for some contaminants, including arsenic, in tap vs. bottled water. E. coli concentrations were >0 CFU/100mL in some unsealed bottled water samples but not for sealed bottles. This study demonstrates that 1) the measured concentrations in tap and bottled water likely pose low risks, as they are below the MCLs, 2) more education in this community on hygiene maintenance of refillable or opened bottled water containers is needed, and 3) using tap water over bottled water is advantageous due to likely lower E. coli risk and lower cost.

Groundwater contamination pathways of phthalates and bisphenol A: origin, characteristics, transport, and fate - A review

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) or phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) that may harm biota and human health. Humans can be exposed to these contaminants by drinking water consumption from water sources such as groundwater. Before their presence in aquifer systems, phthalates and BPA can be found in many matrices due to anthropogenic activities, which result in long-term transport to groundwater reservoirs by different mechanisms and reaction processes. The worldwide occurrence of phthalates and BPA concentrations in groundwater have ranged from 0.1 × 10^-3 to 3 203.33 µg L^-1 and from 0.09 × 10^-3 to 228.04 µg L^-1, respectively. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the groundwater contamination pathways of phthalates and BPA from the main environmental sources to groundwater. Overall, this article provides an overview that integrates phthalate and BPA environmental cycling, from their origin to human reception via groundwater consumption. Additionally, in this review, the readers can use the information provided as a principal basis for existing policy ratification and for governments to develop legislation that may incorporate these endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) as priority contaminants. Indeed, this may trigger the enactment of regulatory guidelines and public policies that help to reduce the exposure of these EDCs in humans by drinking water consumption.

Release of phthalate esters (PAEs) and microplastics (MPs) from face masks and gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic

Marine pollution with personal protective equipment (PPE) has recently gained major attention. Multiple studies reported the release of microplastics (MPs) and chemical contaminants from face masks, the most used PPE type. However, not much is known concerning the release of phthalate esters (PAEs) in aquatic media, as well as the hazard posed by other types of PPE. In the present study, we investigated the release of MPs and PAEs from face masks and gloves recovered from the environment. The results indicated that both PPEs release MPs comparable to the literature, but higher concentrations were presented by face masks. In turn, the total concentration of six PAEs was higher in gloves than in face masks. The release of these contaminants is exacerbated over time. The present study allows researchers to understand the contribution of PPE to marine pollution while accounting for gloves, a generally overlooked source of contaminants.

Thyroid hormone disruption by bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) in Japanese medaka Oryzias latipes

Pollution of water bodies with plasticizers is a serious environmental problem worldwide. In this study, we investigated the effects of plasticizers bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). DEHP significantly increased the expression of all the genes tested: thyroid stimulating hormone beta subunit (tshβ-like), tshβ, deiodinase 1 (dio1), deiodinase 2 (dio2), and thyroid hormone receptor alpha (trα) and beta (trβ). However, DEHA only significantly increased tshβ at 7.4 µg/L but significantly decreased dio2 expression at 25.8, 111.1, and 412.6 4 µg/L, while other genes were not significantly affected. Both chemicals reduced eye size and total body length, but did not affect embryo development, hatching time and rate, and swimming performance. DEHA alone affected swim bladder inflation and not DEHP. This is the first report that not only DEHP but also DEHA disrupt thyroid hormone activity in fish. DEHP contamination (13.2 μg/L) was detected in tap water from Kobe, Japan; thus, tap water itself may disrupt thyroid hormone activity in Japanese medaka. Importantly, the effective concentration of DEHP for thyroid hormone-related gene expression and growth was close to or lower than DEHP concentrations reported in surface water elsewhere, indicating that DEHP contamination is a serious aquatic pollution.

Effects of phthalate esters on soil microbial community under different planting patterns in Northern China: Case study of Hebei Province

Soil microorganisms are biological factors involved in the farmland environment. The factors that shape soil microbial communities and how these are influenced by geographic location, planting pattern (open-field or greenhouse), and soil organic pollutants (phthalate esters, PAEs) remain poorly understood at large scales. Using 16 S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing, we characterized the soil microbiota in open-field and greenhouse soils in Hebei Province, China, and correlated their structure and composition to geographic location, planting pattern and PAEs. Compared with geographic location, planting pattern is more decisive for shaping soil microbes and has more significant effects on bacteria, and the effects are shaped by the number and types of core OTUs. PAEs participated in the shaping of soil microbial communities by altering the relative abundances of dominant microorganisms in the two planting patterns, and the effects of PAEs with high K_ow were more significant. PAEs have a greater impact on bacteria than fungi in both planting patterns. Bacteria in the greenhouse soil were sensitive to the 9 kinds of PAEs detected, however in the open-field samples, mainly responded to PAEs with high K_ow and rarely respond to PAEs with low K_ow. DEHP and DBP, as two monomers with the highest concentration, have significant effects on dominant genera of microorganisms under both planting patterns, with inhibiting effect on bacteria and significantly promotion on fungi. Our study clarified the factors that have a substantial impact on soil microorganisms at the provincial scale and the mechanisms involved in shaping soil microbial community structure, as well as the significant impact of PAEs on soil microbial dominant microorganisms.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate disturbs cholesterol metabolism through oxidative stress in rat liver

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used and has been implicated in hepatotoxicity, although the mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of DEHP on hepatic cholesterol metabolism in SD rats exposed to 0 and 300 mg/kg/day DEHP for 12 weeks. An RNA-Seq analysis was performed to describe the hepatic responses to long-term DEHP exposure in combination with serological and oxidative stress parameter measurements. DEHP increased the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and alanine transaminase (ALT). Moreover, DEHP increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver. Transcriptomic results revealed that DEHP dramatically changed the cholesterol metabolism pathway and oxidation-reduction process and depressed gene expression involved in cholesterol efflux and monooxygenase activity. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) positively correlated with Abcg5 and Abcg8. Overall, this study showed the mechanisms underlying hepatotoxicity caused by DEHP, providing new insights into understanding DEHP poisoning.

Emerging contaminants migration from pipes used in drinking water distribution systems: a review of the scientific literature

Migration of emerging contaminants (ECs) from pipes into water is a global concern due to potential human health effects. Nevertheless, a review of migration ECs from pipes into water distribution systems is presently lacking. This paper reviews, the reported occurrence migration of ECs from pipes into water distribution systems in the world. Furthermore, the results related to ECs migration from pipes into water distribution systems, their probable sources, and their hazards are discussed. The present manuscript considered the existing reports on migration of five main categories of ECs including microplastics (MPs), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, nonylphenol (NP), perfluoroalkyl, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from distribution network into tap water. A focus on tap water in published literature suggests that pipes type used had an important role on levels of ECs migration in water during transport and storage of water. For comparison, tap drinking water in contact with polymer pipes had the highest mean concentrations of reviewed contaminants. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most frequently detected types of microplastics (MPs) in tap water. Based on the risk assessment analysis of ECs, levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were above 1, indicating a potential non-carcinogenic health risk to consumers. Finally, there are still scientific gaps on occurrence and migration of ECs from pipes used in distribution systems, and this needs more in-depth studies to evaluate their exposure hazards on human health.

Insights into the Titania (TiO2) Photocatalysis on the Removal of Phthalic Acid Esters (PAEs) in Water

In this era of globalization, plastic is regarded as one of the most versatile innovations, finding its uses ranging from packaging, automotive, agriculture, and construction to the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Unfortunately, the single-use nature of plastics leads to ecological and environmental problems. Among conventional disposal management of plastic waste are landfilling dumping, incineration, and recycling. However, not all plastic waste goes into disposal management and ends up accumulating in lakes, rivers, and seas. In the aquatic environment, the action of photochemical weathering plastics has resulted in the release of chemical additives such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs), an important plasticizer added to plastic products to improve their softness, flexibility, and durability. Nowadays, PAEs have been ubiquitously detected in our environment and numerous organisms are exposed to PAEs to some extent. As PAEs carry endocrine disruptive and carcinogenicity properties, an urgent search for the development of an efficient and effective method to remove PAEs from the environment is needed. As a viable option, titania (TiO2) photocatalysis is a promising tool to combat the PAEs contamination in our environment owing to its high photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, and its ability to totally mineralize PAEs into carbon dioxide and water. Hence, this paper aims to highlight the concerning issue of the contamination of PAEs in our aquatic environments and the summary of the removal of PAEs by TiO2 photocatalysis. This review concerning the significance of knowledge on environmental PAEs would hopefully spark huge interest and future development to tackle this plastic-associated pollutant. Copyright © 2022 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). 

Assessing exposure of the Australian population to microplastics through bottled water consumption

The presence of microplastics in the environment is substantially documented; however, the pathways of dietary exposure to microplastics are not yet well understood. This is the first study to document the presence of microplastics in bottled water sold in Australia from commercial outlets. In total, 16 brands of bottled water (Australian Sourced: n = 11, Imported: n = 5) sold in the two largest supermarkets in Australia were analysed in triplicate (n = 48) for the presence of polyethylene, PE; polystyrene, PS; polypropylene, PP; polyvinyl chloride, PVC; polyethylene terephthalate, PET; polycarbonate, PC; polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA; and polyamide, PA. Microplastics were detected in 94% (n = 15) of the samples, with PP (n = 14, 88%), PET (n = 10, 63%), PA (n = 7, 44%), and PE (n = 6, 38%) the most frequently detected. On average, a litre of bottled water contained 13 ± 19 (St Dev) microplastics, ranging from 0 to 80 microplastics/L. The average size of the microplastics identified in this study was 77 ± 22 μm. It was found that bottled water sourced and packaged overseas contained four times as many microplastics compared to bottled water sourced in Australia. It was estimated that in 2017, 28.3% of the Australian population consumed on average 30.8 L of bottled water; therefore, using the result from this study it is estimated that Australians are exposed to 400 microplastics annually through the consumption of bottled water. To understand the total amount of microplastics that Australians could be exposed to through dietary routes, further work is required to observe the presence of microplastics in other beverages and food.

Evaluation of occurrence of organic, inorganic, and microbial contaminants in bottled drinking water and comparison with international guidelines: a worldwide review

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of inorganic and organic substances as well as microbial contaminants in bottled drinking water on a global scale. The findings were compared to WHO guidelines, EPA standards, European Union (EU) directive, and standards drafted by International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). Our review showed that 46% of studies focused on the organic contaminants, 25% on physicochemical parameters, 12% on trace elements, 7% on the microbial quality, and 10% on microplastics (MPs) and radionuclides elements. Overall, from the 54 studies focusing on organic contaminants (OCs) compounds, 11% of studies had higher OCs concentrations than the standard permissible limit. According to the obtained results from this review, several OCs, inorganic contaminants (IOCs), including CHCl₃, CHBrCl₂, DEHP, benzene, styrene, Ba, As, Hg, pb, Ag, F, NO₃, and SO₄ in bottled drinking water of some countries were higher than the international guidelines values that may cause risks for human health in a long period of time. Furthermore, some problematic contaminants with known or unknown health effects such as EDCs, DBP, AA, MPs, and some radionuclides (⁴⁰K and ²²²Rn) lack maximum permissible values in bottled drinking water as stipulated by international guidelines. The risk index (HI) for OCs and IOCs (CHBrCl₂, Ba, As, and Hg) was higher than 1 in adults and children, and the value of HI for CHCl₃ in children was more than 1. Thus, further studies are required to have a better understanding of all contaminants levels in bottled drinking water.

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of phthalic acid esters through a total diet study in Shenzhen, South China

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are typical endocrine disruptors which are ubiquitous contaminants. Human exposure to PAEs is through multiple routes of which the diet is recognised as the main source of daily intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary exposure to PAEs of residents in Shenzhen (China) through a total diet study and assess the potential health risk. A total of 16 different phthalate esters in samples of 12 composite food groups were determined by GC-MS. The main dietary sources of PAE exposure among adult residents in Shenzhen were potatoes (21%), eggs (21%), meat (15%) and aquatic products (14%). The median total dietary exposure to PAEs in Shenzhen residents was 7780 ng kg^-1 bw d^-1, and the hazard quotients (HQ) of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were 0.09, 0.06, 0.07, 0.10 and 0.03, respectively. Therefore, the risks from dietary PAE exposure were low. However, with the increasing use of PAEs and their accumulation in the environment, the probability of PAEs entering the food chain is gradually increasing and, therefore, PAEs should be strictly controlled and regularly monitored.

Associations of Boiled Water and Lifespan Water Sources With Mortality: A Cohort Study of 33,467 Older Adults

Background:

There were few studies to report whether drinking water sources and habits affected health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine how boiled water and lifespan water sources affected the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in the elderly.

Methods

This study was a 20-year cohort study. All participants aged ≥60 years were eligible. Exposures of interest included lifespan drinking water sources and habits, which were collected using a validated questionnaire. Drinking water sources included wells, surface water, spring, and tap water in childhood, around the age of 60 years, and at present. Drinking habits included boiled and un-boiled water. The main end events included CVD and all-cause mortality.

Results

There were 33,467 participants in this study. Compared to tap water, drinking well and surface water around the age of 60 years were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.092, 95% CI: 1.051–1.134, P < 0.001; and HR: 1.136, 95% CI: 1.081–1.194, P < 0.001, respectively). However, only drinking spring around aged 60 years and drinking well at present were associated with a lower CVD mortality (HR: 0.651, 95% CI: 0.452–0.939, P = 0.022; and HR: 0.757, 95% CI: 0.665–0.863, P < 0.001, respectively). Boiled water was not associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Drinking water from well and surface water around the age of 60 years were associated with increased all-cause mortality. Drinking water from spring around the age of 60 years and well at present was associated with a decreased CVD mortality. However, boiled water was not associated with mortality.