Endocrine Abstracts

Phthalates are man-made chemicals that are used in many different types of products. The main use is as plasticizers, but they can also be added to, for example, cosmetics, drug coatings, and perfumes. One of the most commonly used phthalates is di-butyl phthalate (DBP), which has been detected in both food and drinking water globally. Once ingested, DBP is rapidly metabolized to its main metabolite, mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), which is frequently detected in human plasma and ...

Chemical contaminants from human activity are omnipresent in the environment. A great number of common industrial compounds are detected in human blood and urine. Common chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates and parabens that can interfere with endocrine signaling are classified as endocrine disruptive compounds (EDCs). The sex steroid hormonal signaling pathway is complex and sensitive to interference, as circulating concentrations of these hormones are low. Even miniscule...