Health
Plasticisers and health
Over the last years plasticisers, namely ortho-phthalates, have been under scrutiny due to their potential health risks. Some studies have linked exposure to plasticisers with health problems. However, other studies have found no such link. Minimising the impact of plasticisers on health and the environment is key for the plasticiser industry. Thus, this is why the industry has been heavily investing in scientific research to fully comprehend the potential impact of plasticisers on human health and the environment.
Plasticisers with the exception of the polymeric ones are REACH registered. Detailed data on toxicological properties are publicly available from ECHA.
Human biomonitoring for plasticisers
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a method for quantifying the exposure of humans to chemical substances. HBM relies on measuring specific degradation products of chemicals (metabolites) in urine, back-calculation of urinary metabolites to external exposures and subsequently compares the exposure against e.g. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) derived safe threshold limit values.
Together with industry, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), precise analytical techniques have been developed and validated to identify specific degradation products of plasticisers. These methods have now been adopted globally. Human biomonitoring studies undertaken by authorities showed that the urinary concentrations of specific plasticiser degradation products consistently fall within the safe threshold range. This confirmed for individual plasticisers their safe use.
10 Jun 2024
Letter to the Editor Boberg et al. (2011) – Corrigendum (2016): Further significant modifications needed
AUTHORS
Morfeld P, Chen M, Otter R, Palermo C, Kemmerling J, Mastrantonio M.
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10 Jun 2024
Reproducibility discrepancies following reanalysis of raw data for a previously published study on diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in rats
A 2011 publication by Boberg et al. entitled "Reproductive and behavioral effects of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in perinatally exposed rats" reported statistically significant changes in sperm parame...
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10 Jun 2024
Language Development of Young Children Is Not Linked to Phthalate Exposure
To the Editor Bornehag et al suggest an association of first-trimester phthalate exposure of mothers measured by first morning void urine metabolites (Swedish Environmental Longitudinal Mother and Chi...
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10 Jun 2024
Comment on Bernard et al. Association between Urinary Metabolites and the Exposure of Intensive Care Newborns to Plasticizers of Medical Devices Used for Their Care Management. Metabolites 2021, 11, 252.
The recent publication “Association between Urinary Metabolites and the Exposure of Intensive Care Newborns to Plasticizers of Medical Devices Used for Their Care Management” by L. Bernard et al....
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10 Jun 2024
Refinement and calibration of a human PBPK model for the plasticiser, Di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) using in silico, in vitro and human biomonitoring data
An existing physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for Di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) was refined to improve the simulations of the venous blood concentrations of the primary monoester meta...
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18 Apr 2024
A rapid micro chamber method to measure SVOC emission and transport model parameters
ABSTRACT
Assessing exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that are emitted from consumer products and building materials in indoor environments is critical for reducing the associated hea...
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18 Apr 2024
Association between Emission Parameters and Material-phase Concentrations of Phthalate Plasticizers and their Alternatives
ABSTRACT
Plasticizers are frequently used in building materials and consumer products and many are semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Understanding the emission rate of plasticizers in indoor e...
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18 Apr 2024
Phthalate Exposure and Neurotoxicity in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
This systematic review aims to assess the relationship between prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalates and neurodevelopmental outcomes, identifying periods of heightened susceptibility. Data sou...
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06 Mar 2023
Development, testing, parameterisation, and calibration of a human PBPK model for the plasticiser, di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) using in silico, in vitro and human biomonitoring data
ABSTRACT
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) based on a refined model for di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) was developed to interpret the m...
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02 Sep 2021
Development, Testing, Parameterisation & Calibration of a Human PBPK Model for DPHP
ABSTRACT
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for Di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) was developed to interpret the biokinetics in humans after single oral doses. The model was parameter...
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28 Oct 2020
Systematic comparison of the male reproductive tract in fetal and adult Wistar rats exposed to DBP and DINP in utero during the masculinisation programming window
ABSTRACT
This study investigates possible effects of in utero exposure of rats to a low dose (125 mg/kg bw/day) and a high dose (750 mg/kg bw/day) of Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) during the masculinis...
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11 Aug 2020
Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) in pregnant rat and human
ABSTRACT
A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) was developed by adapting the existing models for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-butylp...
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04 Jun 2020
Plasticisers chapter in Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of industrial chemistry
Discover the main used plasticisers and their applications in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of industrial chemistry.
Read more about the contribution of European Plasticisers to the Encyclopedia here...
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31 Oct 2019
Study of a Human Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for the Plasticiser, Hexamoll® DINCH
Development, Testing, Parameterization, and Calibration of a Human Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for the Plasticizer, Hexamoll® Diisononyl-Cyclohexane-1, 2-Dicarboxylate Usin...
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04 Jan 2017
FACTSHEET – A Quantitative Weight of Evidence Methodology (QWoE)
Learn more about the methodology developed by Professors W. Dekant and J.Bridges to make scientific evaluations more consistent when testing a hypothesis, using predefined criteria. Our factsheet allo...
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01 Dec 2016
A QWoE methodology for the assessment of reproductive and developmental toxicity and its application for classification and labeling of chemicals
ABSTRACT
Hazard assessment of chemicals usually applies narrative assessments with a number of weaknesses. Therefore, application of weight of evidence (WoE) approaches are often mandated but guidan...
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01 Nov 2016
Assessment of reproductive and developmental effects of DINP, DnHP and DCHP using quantitative weight of evidence
ABSTRACT
Quantitative weight of evidence (QWoE) methodology utilizes detailed scoring sheets to assess the quality/reliability of each publication on toxicity of a chemical and gives numerical scores...
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01 Jul 2016
Outcome reporting bias in observational epidemiology studies on phthalates
Introduction
Phthalates are used in cosmetics, flooring adhesives, medical tubings, toys, food packaging materials, and so forth. A number of reviews of the epidemiology of phthalates have been publis...
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01 Jan 2015
European Plasticisers concludes LCA study on DINP
INTRODUCTION
European Plasticisers (formerly European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates - ECPI) commissioned PE International to conduct an LCA study with the goal to setup a PlasticsEurope E...
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Low risk of exposure to the environment
Made from renewable resources
Different types of plasticisers
