Review of Phthalates and its Compounds in Human and Freshwater Fish

Phthalates, are organic substances often called Phthalic acid esters, frequently used in many industries. Phthalic acid esters are well known peroxisome proliferators. They are used as the so-called plasticisers, substances that improve mechanical properties of plastic materials, mainly PVC. There is considerable concern about the adverse effects of these chemicals on wildlife and human. Phthalates are generally lipophilic, which inuences their leaching and environmental partitioning characteristics. Human exposure to phthalates occur as a result of direct contact or use of a product containing phthalates, through the leaching of phthalates from one product into another, occur with food packaging or intravenous uids, or by general contamination of the ambient environment. Skin may come into direct contact with phthalate containing clothing, cosmetics, sunscreens, insecticides, other personal care products, modelling clay, toys, yoga pads, waxes, cleaning products and denture material. Diethyl phthalate in aquatic environment originates from a variety of compounds of anthropogenic origin such as pesticides, detergents and plasticizers. Dimethyl phthalate and DBP have been used topically as insect repellants. DBP, DEP, DMP and DnOP are currently on the US EPAs list of potentially toxic inerts, DEHP are commonly used as plasticizers in plastic industry which can be exposed to human body through direct use or by indirect means after releasing into food and water, such as breathing, drinking water, diet and skin, raising public concerns. DCHP (dicyclohexyl phthalate), are being evaluated for endocrine disrupting properties. The phthalate plasticisers DINP (diisononyl phthalate), DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate) and DNOP (di-n-octylphthalate) in toys and child care articles which can be placed in the mouth (concentrations greater than0.1 %) by mass. BBP is very toxic to aquatic organisms with long lasting effects. DEP was absorbed unchanged from the intestine and was hydrolysed to monoethyl phthalate (MEP) in kidneys. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) tend to be used as solvents and in adhesives, waxes, inks, cosmetics, insecticides and pharmaceutical. To this phthalate fish Tilapia mossambica were exposed and bioassay studies were evaluated and their toxicity were determined. The final results conclude that the toxicity depends upon the dosage of the toxicant.