Figure 1.

Potential Sources of Phthalate Exposure in daily life. Phthalates have widespread applications in consumer products- they are used in a wide range of daily use household and personal care items starting from soaps, body lotions, and plastic containers to blood transfusion units. They can enter the human body through different routes like ingestion of foods, air inhalation, dust ingestion or dermal absorption. Phthalates can also cross the placenta and affect the developing fetus in a pregnant woman. Infants and neonates are also subjected to phthalate exposure via breast milk and from infant toys like pacifiers, bottle nipples, teethers, and neonatal medical care units.