Phthalates and the gut microbiome

The persistent exposure to various chemical compounds found in the environment, encountered by humans in their day-to-day endeavors, can have detrimental effects on human health, thus posing a worldwide concern. Phthalates (PAEs) represent a group of chemicals extensively utilized across various industrial sectors, such as plastics, food packaging, playthings, and medical apparatuses. They function as additives in plastics to confer flexibility to the final products [1-3]. PAEs can escape into the surroundings through multiple pathways such as ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, resulting in their widespread presence as contaminants [4]. Investigations have associated PAEs with diverse health repercussions, including allergic reactions, respiratory issues like asthma, reproductive harm, and disturbances in the endocrine system. Products aimed at pregnant women and children are particularly worrisome due to potential health ramifications associated with PAEs. In response to reproductive concerns, the European Union has imposed limitations on specific PAEs in consumer goods [5, 6]. Standard analytical methods like gas and liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry are frequently employed to identify PAEs in food items and biological specimens. Ongoing research endeavors are aimed at comprehending the repercussions of PAEs on both human health and the environment [7-9]. Figure 5.1 depicts the chemical structure of the frequently utilized PAEs. Figure 5.1 Most commonly used PAEs. A diagram showing chemical structures of Benzyl Butylphthalate, Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Di-isononyl phthalate, Diethyl phthalate, Di-n-butyl phthalate.