Xu Ying, Pei Mengyuan, Li Zhuofan, Xu Jiake, Yang Xiaoqing, Chen Le'an, Zhang Cheng, Zhu Lusheng, Wang Jun, Gao Peng
School of Environment & Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 1;382:126664. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126664. Epub 2025 Jun 13.
Phthalate esters (PAEs), widely employed as plasticizers, have garnered significant attention due to their multiple entry pathways into the environment, posing substantial threats to ecosystems. While current reviews predominantly focus on acute or high-dose toxicity in isolated environments or organisms, the present review addresses the critical knowledge gap. The present review encompasses peer-reviewed studies listed in the Web of Science from January 2017 to December 2024, excluding repetitive, irrelevant studies and those with invalid or incomplete data. Six common PAEs (BBP: butyl benzyl phthalate; DBP: di-n-butyl phthalate; DEHP: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; DEP: diethyl phthalate; DMP: dimethyl phthalate; DOP: di-n-octyl phthalate) were listed as priority control contaminants by the US EPA. We comprehensively examine the environmental distribution and ecotoxicological impacts of these six PAEs. The toxicity differences among six PAEs were evaluated by integrating several indicators, such as oxidative stress, developmental disruption, endocrine dysfunction, metabolic alterations, reproductive impairment, and neurotoxicity. The mixture interactions were also examined because environmental exposure typically involves multiple PAEs and co-contaminants rather than single compounds. The PAE concentrations range from 0.00220 to 25.1 mg kg and vary significantly with geographic location and soil cultivation type. Both aquatic organisms (e.g., fish and invertebrates) and soil organisms (e.g., earthworms and nematodes) exhibit pronounced toxic responses to various PAEs. The combined toxicity of PAEs with other environmental contaminants revealed synergistic/antagonistic effects-a critical consideration that is frequently overlooked in ecological risk assessments. The evidence presented provides a robust scientific foundation for updating current PAE regulations to address real-world exposure scenarios involving complex mixtures and long-term effects.
邻苯二甲酸酯（PAEs）作为增塑剂被广泛使用，由于其进入环境的途径多样，对生态系统构成了重大威胁，因此受到了广泛关注。虽然目前的综述主要集中在孤立环境或生物体中的急性或高剂量毒性，但本综述填补了这一关键的知识空白。本综述涵盖了2017年1月至2024年12月在科学网（Web of Science）上列出的同行评审研究，排除了重复性、不相关的研究以及数据无效或不完整的研究。六种常见的PAEs（BBP：邻苯二甲酸丁苄酯；DBP：邻苯二甲酸二正丁酯；DEHP：邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基己基）酯；DEP：邻苯二甲酸二乙酯；DMP：邻苯二甲酸二甲酯；DOP：邻苯二甲酸二正辛酯）被美国环境保护局列为优先控制污染物。我们全面研究了这六种PAEs的环境分布和生态毒理学影响。通过整合氧化应激、发育干扰、内分泌功能障碍、代谢改变、生殖损伤和神经毒性等多个指标，评估了六种PAEs之间的毒性差异。还研究了混合物的相互作用，因为环境暴露通常涉及多种PAEs和共污染物，而不是单一化合物。PAE浓度范围为0.00220至25.1毫克/千克，并且随地理位置和土壤耕作类型的不同而有显著差异。水生生物（如鱼类和无脊椎动物）和土壤生物（如蚯蚓和线虫）对各种PAEs均表现出明显的毒性反应。PAEs与其他环境污染物的联合毒性显示出协同/拮抗作用——这是生态风险评估中经常被忽视的一个关键因素。所提供的证据为更新当前的PAE法规以应对涉及复杂混合物和长期影响的实际暴露情况提供了坚实的科学基础。
