Advances in researches on metabolic mechanism and toxicity of phthalate esters.

Phthalate esters widely exist in the environment. It has been demonstrated that they are harmful to human bodies. Phthalate mono-esters are the first metabolite of phthalate esters. In general,biotransformation or metabolism of xenobiotics most frequently result in detoxification of the chemical and facilitates excretion from the body. However,this may not be the case for phthalates. In the present paper,metabolism of phthalate esters and the toxicity of the phthalate mono-esters were reviewed,not only the effect of their mutagenesis,teratogenesis and carcinogenesis,but also their toxicity on reproduction,development,hormones,nuclear receptor,inflammation and obesity were included.