A Review On Plasticizers In Water And Food And Their Impact On Human Health

The production of plastic, which became indispensable for modern society in the last 70 years, has increased more than 300-fold; the global market will be 627 billion US dollars in 2023. To modify the flexibility and rigidity of the plastic, chemicals called plasticizers are added. Therefore, it is not surprising that plastic (micro, nanoparticles) and the plasticizers phthalates, bisphenols, and their substitutes are widely present in all segments of the environment (water, air, soil, food, animals). Plasticizers are also present in remote areas. Humans interact with plasticizers via food containers, medicines, toys, electronic devices, building materials, cosmetics, perfumes, and personal care products, in addition to water and food. Plasticizer exposure has negative health effects on humans and animals. Plasticizers in humans cause insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, increased visceral adiposity, obesity-associated CVD, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, prostate, testicular and breast cancer, and reproductive toxicity. Allergy, asthma, delayed neurodevelopment, social impairment, improper thyroid function, and increased risk of thyroid cancer are also caused by phthalates. In females, phthalate exposure is responsible for miscarriage, disrupted secretion of estrogen and progesterone, endometriosis, eclampsia, impaired oocyte competence, ovarian dysfunction, and premature breast development. In fish and other aquatic organisms, plasticizers cause immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and endocrine, metabolic, and developmental toxicities. This work reports the amount of plasticizers in water, food, and air and their impact on human and aquatic organisms’ health.