Phthalate Exposure: From Quantification to Risk Assessment

Phthalates (di-esters of phthalic acid) are a group of synthetic organic compounds present in the environment because of their wide use in a multitude of important industrial products (e.g., cosmetics, medical devices, plastics, and food packages), mainly as plasticizers to improve mechanical properties such as flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of polyvinyl chloride. The widespread occurrence of phthalates in the environment as well as their endocrine-disrupting and reproductive effects contribute to their recognition as substances of high concern. In this Special Issue of Toxics entitled “Phthalate Exposure: From Quantification to Risk Assessment”, we collected both reviews and articles to identify the levels of these substances in the environment and in other sources of human exposure (e.g., occupational), their toxic effects, and their action mechanisms. Special attention was paid to analytical methods able to quantify low concentrations of phthalates in different complex matrixes, particularly in human biomonitoring.