Screening for phthalates biomarkers and its potential role in infertility outcomes in Jordan

Environmental pollutant Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces asthenozoospermia: new insights from network toxicology

The global decline in sperm quality in men is closely associated with environmental exposure to the plasticizer Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), but the molecular mechanisms underlying its induction of asthenozoospermia (AZS) remain incompletely understood. By integrating the toxicological targets of DEHP and differential genes in AZS patients, and combining machine learning, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations, this study successfully identified hub genes and signaling pathways induced by DEHP in AZS, aiming to provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of this disease. A total of 26 toxicological targets were identified, with FGFR1, MMP7, and ST14 clearly defined as playing crucial regulatory roles in DEHP-induced AZS. This study also reveals that DEHP may induce reproductive system inflammation, affecting the proliferation and survival of reproductive cells, and subsequently impacting sperm vitality, possibly through regulating the mTORC1 pathway, TNF-α signaling via the NF-κB pathway, and MYC targets v1 pathway. Furthermore, changes in the immune microenvironment revealed the significant impact of immune status on testicular function. In conclusion, this study provides important scientific evidence for understanding the molecular mechanisms of AZS and developing prevention and treatment strategies based on toxicological targets.

Comprehensive review of phthalate exposure: Health implications, biomarker detection and regulatory standards

Phthalates are a wide family of chemicals that are used in many different industrial applications used in many different industrial applications, including the production of plastics, toys, food packaging particularly for kids, and medical equipment. Due to their various chemical and physical properties, phthalates may negatively impact humans, animals, and the environment. Thus the potential for phthalate exposure and harm to humans, animals, and the environment is high because its presence is alarming. Phthalates can be ingested, inhaled, absorbed topically, or via iatrogenic exposure in animals and humans. This article aimed to ascertain the modes of exposure, fate and detection techniques, and harmful effects of phthalates on humans, animals, and the environment. This review also shows that the intake of phthalate above the established daily limit from sources such as food, toys, and air causes serious harm, including impaired immune function, difficulties in pregnancy, loss of reproduction, and damage to the kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain in humans. Children and pregnant women are the most impacted groups and phthalates also negatively affect the environment and wildlife. A few methods to determine phthalate exposure, such as the LC and the HPLC-MS/MS methods, which employ human fluid or dust air as a biomarker, are also addressed here. Consequently, this comprehensive review aims to provide a detailed analysis of the existing evidence regarding explicit links between exposure to phthalates and subsequent health outcomes that may be directly related to this exposure. Additionally, we reviewed the developed and validated analytical methods and supplemented the literature with partial biomonitoring data on their metabolites.

Dipropyl phthalate induces craniofacial chondrogenic defects in zebrafish embryos

Dipropyl phthalate (DPRP), a plasticizer commonly utilized in the plastics industry, has been identified in food and the environment and has the potential to present a hazard to human health and the environment. In this study, the first comprehensive evaluation of DPRP-induced craniofacial chondrogenic defects was conducted using a zebrafish model. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 1, 2, and 4 mg/L DPRP from 6 to 96 h post-fertilization. At 80 hpf, it was observed that exposure to DPRP resulted in craniofacial developmental malformations, which were mainly characterized by the shortening of the mandibular pharyngeal arches and the inability of the accompanying artery to elongate forward. The resulting phenotype was similar to that of micrognathia syndrome. Transcriptome sequencing and molecular docking analyses revealed that DPRP down-regulated chondrocyte-related genes and induced activation of the FoxO signaling pathway, which in turn interfered with cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this process, DPRP induced elevated levels of oxidative stress in the craniofacial pharyngeal arch while promoting inflammatory responses. This ultimately led to craniofacial chondrogenic malformations in zebrafish. The present study demonstrates that DPRP induces developmental toxicity of zebrafish craniofacial cartilage, which may have adverse effects on other aquatic organisms and humans.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure increase female infertility

This study explores the relationship between Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure and female infertility. The analysis included 998 female participants aged between 18 and 44 years. We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2018) using multiple logistic regression and generalized linear models to assess the impact of DEHP on infertility. Additionally, we employed curve fitting and two-piecewise linear regression models to investigate potential nonlinear correlations, conducting subgroup analyses based on age, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes. Our results, after adjusting for confounders, revealed a positive association between DEHP exposure and infertility. This association was significant whether DEHP was treated as a continuous variable (odds ratio OR = 1.28, 95 % confidence interval CI: 1.08-1.52, P = 0.0072) or as a categorical variable (P for trend = 0.0038). A non-linear relationship was identified, with an inflection point at - 3.35 (∑DEHP = 0.0981 × 10-9 mol/mg creatinine). Effect sizes were 1.55 (1.01-2.36) on the left side of the inflection point and 0.73 (0.43-1.23) on the right side. Subgroup analysis indicated that the correlation was consistent across stratified variables. In conclusion, our findings suggest a non-linear association between DEHP exposure and female infertility, with a positive correlation within a specific dose range, but no further increase in risk beyond a certain threshold.

Toxic Ingredients in Personal Care Products: A Dermatological Perspective

Environmental dermatology is the study of how environmental factors affect the integumentary system. The environment includes natural and built habitats, encompassing ambient exposure, occupational exposures, and lifestyle exposures secondary to dietary and personal care choices. This review explores common toxins found in personal care products and packaging, such as bisphenols, parabens, phthalates, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, p-phenylenediamine, and formaldehyde. Exposure to these toxins has been associated with carcinogenic, obesogenic, or proinflammatory effects that can potentiate disease. In addition, these compounds have been implicated as endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can worsen dermatological conditions such as acne vulgaris, or dermatitis. Certain pollutants found in personal care products are not biodegradable and have the potential to bioaccumulate in humans. Therefore, even short-term exposure can cause long-lasting issues for communities. The skin is often the first point of contact for environmental exposures and serves as the conduit between environmental toxins and the human body. Therefore, it is important for dermatologists to understand common pollutants and their acute, subacute, and chronic impact on dermatological conditions to better diagnose and manage disease.

The adverse role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the reproductive system

Reproductive system diseases pose prominent threats to human physical and mental well-being. Besides being influenced by genetic material regulation and changes in lifestyle, the occurrence of these diseases is closely connected to exposure to harmful substances in the environment. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), characterized by hormone-like effects, have a wide range of influences on the reproductive system. EDCs are ubiquitous in the natural environment and are present in a wide range of industrial and everyday products. Currently, thousands of chemicals have been reported to exhibit endocrine effects, and this number is likely to increase as the testing for potential EDCs has not been consistently required, and obtaining data has been limited, partly due to the long latency of many diseases. The ability to avoid exposure to EDCs, especially those of artificially synthesized origin, is increasingly challenging. While EDCs can be divided into persistent and non-persistent depending on their degree of degradation, due to the recent uptick in research studies in this area, we have chosen to focus on the research pertaining to the detrimental effects on reproductive health of exposure to several EDCs that are widely encountered in daily life over the past six years, specifically bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates (PAEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), parabens, pesticides, heavy metals, and so on. By focusing on the impact of EDCs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which leads to the occurrence and development of reproductive system diseases, this review aims to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of EDCs' damage to human health and to encourage further in-depth research to clarify the potentially harmful effects of EDC exposure through various other mechanisms. Ultimately, it offers a scientific basis to enhance EDCs risk management, an endeavor of significant scientific and societal importance for safeguarding reproductive health.