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Review
. 2021 Apr 14;22(8):4063.
doi: 10.3390/ijms22084063.

Perinatal Exposure to Phthalates: From Endocrine to Neurodevelopment Effects

Laura Lucaccioni  1 , Viola Trevisani  2 , Erica Passini  2 , Beatrice Righi  3 , Carlotta Plessi  4 , Barbara Predieri  1 , Lorenzo Iughetti  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Perinatal Exposure to Phthalates: From Endocrine to Neurodevelopment Effects

Laura Lucaccioni et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Phthalates, as other endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), may alter the homeostasis and the action of hormones and signaling molecules, causing adverse health outcomes. This is true especially for infants, who are both more exposed and sensitive to their effects. Phthalates are particularly harmful when the exposure occurs during certain critical temporal windows of the development, such as the prenatal and the early postnatal phases. Phthalates may also interfere with the neuroendocrine systems (e.g., thyroid hormone signaling or metabolism), causing disruption of neuronal differentiation and maturation, increasing the risk of behavioral and cognitive disorders (ADHD and autistic behaviors, reduced mental, psychomotor, and IQ development, and emotional problems). Despite more studies being needed to better understand the role of these substances, plenty of evidence suggests the impact of phthalates on the neuroendocrine system development and function. This review aims to update the knowledge on the neuroendocrine consequences of neonatal and perinatal exposure to phthalates.

Keywords: endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); endocrine endpoints; neurodevelopment; newborn; phthalates; prenatal exposure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
How phthalates may enter in The Development Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD), causing epigenetic effects.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The major findings on the effects of phthalates on steroidogenesis are summarized. The phthalates metabolites modify the concentration of hormones and steroidogenic enzymes. Those in blue boxes increase the level of the hormone/steroidogenic enzyme indicated in black, while those in red boxes decrease the levels of the hormones/steroidogenic enzyme highlighted [55].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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