class 9 Flashcards
What are phthalates used for in plastics?
Phthalates make plastics more flexible and harder to break.
How can people be exposed to phthalates?
Through direct contact with phthalate-containing products or indirectly by consuming food and drinks that have been in contact with them.
Why is DEHP considered harmful?
DEHP is a phthalate that can easily migrate out of products into our bodies and act as an endocrine disruptor, affecting hormone balance.
What is the most common way people are exposed to DEHP?
Mostly through eating food that has been in contact with DEHP-containing plastics.
How does the body handle DEHP?
DEHP is absorbed and metabolized into MEHP, which is thought to cause toxic effects. It’s mostly distributed to the liver and fat tissues but doesn’t accumulate over time.
How does DEHP affect sexual development?
As an endocrine disruptor, DEHP can interfere with hormones that regulate sexual development, potentially leading to altered physical characteristics and reproductive issues
Can exposure to phthalates like DEHP lead to changes in the brain?
Yes, early exposure to DEHP can affect the brain, influencing behaviors and possibly leading to conditions like anxiety due to its impact on hormone signaling.
What role does DEHP have in anxiety and the HPA axis in mice?
DEHP exposure can dysregulate the HPA axis, leading to increased levels of cortisol, which is associated with anxiety-like behavior.
How might DEHP contribute to inflammation related to anxiety?
DEHP exposure may increase pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, contributing to low-grade inflammation and anxiety-like behaviors.
What is a major challenge in determining human exposure to DEHP?
Tracking all possible sources and routes of DEHP exposure is complicated, as it’s used in many products and can enter the body in different ways.
What makes measuring DEHP exposure in people difficult?
Since DEHP comes from many products and we can be exposed in various ways, tracking every source of exposure is like detective work – very complex.
What’s one way scientists measure how much DEHP a person has been exposed to?
By measuring levels of DEHP metabolites in urine, which helps account for all the different ways someone might be exposed.
Why are children considered at higher risk for DEHP exposure than adults?
Children might ingest more DEHP because they’re more likely to chew on or suck plastic toys, and they metabolize DEHP differently, possibly making them more vulnerable.
How does DEHP affect the body’s hormonal system?
DEHP can act like hormones in our body, messing up the normal hormonal balance and possibly changing how the body and brain develop.
Why is DEHP considered an endocrine disruptor?
Because it interferes with our endocrine system, which uses hormones to control many body functions, including growth and stress responses.
How can DEHP exposure affect sexual development in mammals?
DEHP can mess with the natural hormones that are critical for sexual development, potentially leading to changes in how reproductive organs develop.
What evidence suggests DEHP can change brain development or behavior?
Studies have shown that exposure to DEHP can affect brain circuits and lead to behavioral changes, like increased anxiety or altered male and female typical behaviors.
How does exposure to phthalates like DEHP relate to anxiety in adult life?
Research suggests that DEHP can disrupt stress hormone levels and immune responses, contributing to anxiety-like behaviors.
What are some steps people can take to reduce their exposure to DEHP?
Avoiding plastic containers for food and drinks, especially for fatty foods which DEHP can easily move into, and choosing toys and products labeled as phthalate-free.
How does ongoing research into DEHP and other phthalates help protect public health?
By understanding how these chemicals affect us, especially vulnerable populations like children, we can create better regulations and safer products to reduce health risks.
Phthalates =
group of chemicals
(plastisizers) used to make plastics more
flexible & harder to break
All phthalates are derived from:
phthalic
anhydride
DEHP does not bioaccumulate true or false
true
sexual determination vs differentiation
In summary, sexual determination is about the genetic and chromosomal factors that decide whether an embryo will develop male or female characteristics. Sexual differentiation is the next step, where those decisions are put into action, and the physical characteristics of males and females are developed.
