Environmental Contamination and Chronic Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Phthalates: An Overlooked and Emerging Determinant for Hormone-Sensitive Cancers

Abstract

Despite several modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of hormone-associated cancers have been established, less heed has been paid to chemicals, those having the potential to thwart the body’s normal detox system and affect the endocrine-hormonal pathways. Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, most widely manufactured and used indiscriminately in several industries, including processed, ultra-processed and packaged food, single-use plastics, household and personal care/cosmetic products including diapers and electronics. The general population is regularly being exposed to phthalates on contact with these products, especially women and children are most vulnerable. It is therefore highly crucial to monitor and evaluate the biological burden of plasticizing phthalates in humans and understand the potential mechanisms of etiological link between pervasive exposure to phthalates and development of chronic diseases such as cancer through epigenetic and/or genetic alterations. It is also important to identify sustainable and scalable interventions for increasing public awareness, and restricting chronic phthalate exposure to individual and the population at large through relevant policy legislations, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, such as India.