Teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and cellular toxicity of phthalate esters.

Growing concern that phthalic acid esters (PAE) may present a health hazard and possible deleterious effects on the ecological system has led to increased interest in the more subtle toxicity of those compounds. Although the acute toxicity of PAEs as a group is quite low, the intrinsic cellular toxicity increases with molecular weight. Whether the intrinsic toxicity is great enough to exert a significant effect in vivo at the typically low levels of solubility of PAEs is of primary importance to the assessment of their potential hazard. This paper reviews work reported on the teratogenicity of PAEs and new work on the mutagenicity, cellular toxicity, and absorption, excretion, and distribution of those compounds. The relationship of in vitro and in vivo response is discussed.