Phthalates are endocrine disruptors frequently occurring in the general and industrial environment and in many industrial products. Moreover, they are also suspected of being carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic, and they show diverse toxicity profiles depending on their structures. The European Union and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) have included many phthalates in the list of priority substances with potential endocrine-disrupting action. They are: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP), di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP), di-n-decyl phthalate (DnDP), and dioctyl phthalate (DOP). There is an ever-increasing demand for new analytical methods suitable for monitoring different phthalates in various environmental, biological, and other matrices. Separation and spectrometric methods are most frequently used. However, modern electroanalytical methods can also play a useful role in this field because of their high sensitivity, reasonable selectivity, easy automation, and miniaturization, and especially low investment and running costs, which makes them suitable for large-scale monitoring. Therefore, this review outlines possibilities and limitations of various analytical methods for determination of endocrine-disruptor phthalate esters in various matrices, including somewhat neglected electroanalytical methods.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been extensively explored due to their harmful effects on individual health and the environment by interfering with hormone activity and disrupting the endocrine system. However, their relationship with essential trace elements remains uncertain. This research aimed to investigate the possible correlation between essential trace elements and toxic metals, including cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in children aged 1-5 years with various infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders, typhoid fever, and pneumonia. The study was conducted on biological testing and specimen (scalp hair and whole blood) of diseased and non-diseased children of the same residential area and referent/control age-matched children from developed cities consuming domestically treated water. The media of biological samples were oxidized by an acid mixture before being analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The accuracy and validity of the methodology were verified through accredited reference material from scalp hair and whole blood sample. The study results revealed that diseased children had lower mean values of essential trace elements (iron, copper, and zinc) in both scalp hair and blood, except for copper, which was found to be higher in blood samples of diseased children. This implies that the deficiency of essential residue and trace elements in children from rural areas who consume groundwater is linked to various infectious diseases. The study highlights the need for more human biomonitoring of EDCs to better comprehend their non-classical toxic properties and their concealed costs on human health. The findings suggest that exposure to EDCs could be associated with unfavorable health outcomes and emphasizes the need for future regulatory policies to minimize exposure and safeguard the health of current and forthcoming generations of children. Furthermore, the study highlights the implication of essential trace elements in maintaining good health and their potential correlation with toxic metals in the environment.
It has been extensively reported that chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) can lead to cancers of oral cavity. In present study, the relationship between arsenic (As) exposure via chewing/inhaling different SLT products in oral cancer patients have or/not consumed SLT products was studied. The As in different types of SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri, and snuff) and biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of different types of oral cancer patients and controls were analyzed. Both controls and oral cancer patients have same age group (ranged 30-60 years), socio-economic status, localities, and dietary habits. The concentrations of As in SLT products and biological samples were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data of present study indicates that the concentration of As was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients than those of controls (p<0.001). It was also observed that the values of As were two- to threefolds higher in biological samples of controls subjects, consuming SLT products as compared to those have none of these habits (p>0.01). The intake of As via consuming different SLT may have synergistic effects, in addition to other risk factors associated with oral cancer.