A review on solution- and vapor-responsive sensors for the detection of phthalates

Phthalic acid esters, largely referred to as phthalates, are today acknowledged as important pollutants used in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based plastics, whose use extends to almost every aspect of modern life. The risk of exposure to phthalates is particularly relevant as high concentrations are regularly found in drinking water, food-contact materials and medical devices, motivating an immense body of research devoted to methods for their detection in liquid samples. Conversely, phthalate vapors have only recently been acknowledged as potentially important atmospheric pollutants and as early fire indicators; additionally, deposition of these vapors can pose significant problems to the proper functioning of spacecraft and diverse on-board devices, leading to major space agencies recognizing the need of developing vapor-responsive phthalate sensors. In this manuscript we present a literature survey on solution- and vapor-responsive sensors and analytical assays for the detection of phthalates, providing a detailed analysis of a vast array of analytical data to offer a clear idea on the analytical performance (limits of detection and quantification, linear range) and advantages provided by each class of sensor covered in this review (electrochemical, optical and vapor-responsive) in the context of their potential real-life applications; the manuscript also gives detailed fundamental information on the various physicochemical responses exploited by these sensors and assays that could potentially be harnessed by new researchers entering the field.

Morpho-biochemical Responses and Disturbed Redox Homeostasis in Barley Under Benzyl-butyl Phthalate Stress

The present study is aimed to address the morphometric consequences, yield attributes, and biochemical responses of barley plants under the stress of an endocrine disruptor i.e., benzyl-butyl phthalate (BBP). The morphometric analyses (plant length, dry weight, and net primary productivity) revealed that the inhibition induced by BBP was concentration- and time-dependent. The seed weight and the number of seeds per spike have also significantly declined with an increase in BBP doses. Similarly, BBP exhibited significant alterations over the control in the biochemical indices viz., pigments, sugars, proteins, proline, malonaldehyde, and hydrogen peroxide contents of barley plants. Furthermore, BBP stress negatively influenced the activities of antioxidative enzymes viz., SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GR of barley with an increase in doses and exposure durations due to the over-produced reactive oxygen species. The uptake and transport of BBP were determined and observed as a responsible cue for these toxicological implications in barley plants under BBP exposure. The correlation of barley plants' morpho-biochemical responses with BBP uptake and transport was also established using Pearson's correlation. Thus, this study indicated the toxicological behavior of meagerly explored phthalate (i.e., BBP) in the crop plant and these observations can be utilized for the generation of tolerant cultivars.

Rapid determination of phthalates in paper products by supercritical fluid chromatography / tandem mass spectrometry

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely used as components of industrial and consumer products including paper and cardboard packaging materials contacting with food or human skin. Being endocrine-disrupting chemicals, PAEs have a negative effect on human health and must be controlled in pulp and paper products. In the present study, supercritical fluid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry in combination with pressurized liquid extraction was proposed for PAEs determination in such objects. Octadecyl stationary phase with non-endcapped silanol groups ensured rapid (4 min) separation of the ten priority PAEs in isocratic elution mode and allowed for effective elimination of interferences from the trace impurities of PAEs in the mobile phase. The attained LOQs are in the range of 0.7-10 μg/L in extracts and 0.02-0.3 μg/g in paper and cardboard samples. The developed method is distinguished by analysis rapidity, easy sample preparation procedure, high selectivity, low susceptibility to mobile phase contamination with analytes, low cost and environmental friendliness due to the use of carbon dioxide as a main component of the mobile phase. The method was successfully tested on real samples of toilet paper and food packaging paper and cardboard in which eight analytes were found at the levels of 0.03-43.5 μg/g. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Facile synthesis and evaluation of three magnetic 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol based covalent organic polymers as adsorbents for high efficient extraction of phthalate esters from plastic packaged foods

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A facile synthetic route for synthesis of three magnetic Tp-based COPs adsorbents was provided.

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Magnetic COP2 showed best extraction performance for PAEs.

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The potential adsorption mechanism was systematically investigated.

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This method was suitable for high efficient extraction of hydrophobic PAEs from foods.

Three covalent organic polymers (COPs) were successfully fabricated by room-temperature solvent-free mechanochemical grinding method between 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TP) and p-phenyl enediamine (COP1), benzidine (COP2), 4, 4″-diamino-p-terphenyl (COP3), and followed by coprecipitation on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to form three corresponding magnetic Tp-series COPs. The fabricated magnetic COPs were evaluated and then applied for the extraction of phthalate esters from food samples before gas chromatography-tandem spectrometry analysis. Magnetic COP2 exhibited the highest extraction efficiency, which can be attributed to its larger pore size, and its strong hydrophobic and π-π interactions with phthalate esters. The method possessed good linearity (10–1000 μg·kg⁻¹), high sensitivity (0.29–2.59 µg·kg⁻¹ for LODs and 0.97–8.63 µg·kg⁻¹ for LOQs), and satisfactory recoveries (70.2–108.1%) with relative standard deviations lower than 5.2%. This method has potentials for high efficient separation/preconcentration of hydrophobic phthalate esters from foods.

Uptake of a plasticizer (di-n-butyl phthalate) impacts the biochemical and physiological responses of barley

BACKGROUND

DBP is one of the most commonly used plasticizers for imparting desirable properties to polymers. The introduction of phthalates is reported to have occurred in the late 1920s, and there has been a significant rise in their release into the environment in past decades due to a lack of covalent bonding with the parent matrix. Because of their numerous applications in day-to-day life, phthalates have become ubiquitous and also classified as endocrine disruptors. Hence, several studies have been conducted to investigate the phthalate-mediated toxicities in animals; however, plants have not been explored to the same amount.

METHODS

Therefore, in the present study, the accumulation and translocation along with morpho-physiological perturbations in barley plants after 15, 30, 60, and 120 days of exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) are investigated using standard protocols.

RESULTS

The maximal accumulation and translocation of DBP in the roots and shoots of barley plants was observed after 60 days of exposure. The exposure of DBP from 15 to 120 days was recorded to decline all the morphological indices (i.e., dry weight, net primary productivity, seed number per spike, and seed weight) of barley plants. The pigments content declined under DBP treatment for all exposure durations except 120 days exposure. Carbohydrate content increased after 15-30 days of exposure afterward it was observed to be decreased under 60 and 120 days of exposure. The protein content was declined in DBP stressed plants for 15-120 days. Proline content was increased in all exposure durations and maximal percent increase was recorded in 120 days of exposure. MDA content showed an increase at earlier exposure durations then followed by a decline in long-term exposure. Hydrogen peroxide content increased at all exposure durations. There were significant alterations observed in the activities of all antioxidative enzymes in comparison to the control. Furthermore, DBP stressed plants after 60 days were analyzed for the macromolecular variations using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

CONCLUSION

Thus, the outcomes of the current work provide an appraisal of phthalates' uptake and translocation mediated phytotoxic responses in barley plants. These observations can help in developing genetically modified edible plants that are resistant to phthalates uptake, thereby ensuring food security.