Subacute Toxicological Effects Of A Mixture Of Endocrine Disruptors In Mice

Abstract

Triclosan (TCS), bisphenol A (BPA), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), common endocrine disruptors in consumer products, raise concerns due to their potential to induce subacute toxicity through oxidative stress, particularly when combined, prompting an investigation into their effects on mice focusing on oxidative damage and organ-specific impacts. Fifty-eight mice were exposed intraperitoneally for 14 days to individual compounds (TCS at 10 mg/kg/day, BPA at 1 mg/kg/day, DEHP at 50 mg/kg/day) and their mixture, with assessments of relative organ weight, blood glucose, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], advanced oxidation protein products [AOPP], glutathione [GSH]), and histopathological changes in the liver, kidneys, testes, and ovaries, analyzed statistically for significance. Findings revealed BPA-induced hyperglycemia in males (~30% higher glucose levels than controls, p<0.05), with the mixture group showing the most severe effects: hepatic and renal MDA levels doubled (p<0.01), AOPP in testes and ovaries increased by ~40% (p<0.05), and GSH depletion was more pronounced in females (~25% reduction, p<0.05), alongside dose-dependent histological lesions like hepatic vascular congestion, renal tubular degeneration, and extensive testicular/ovarian necrosis, indicating synergistic toxicity. These results highlight that combined exposure to TCS, BPA, and DEHP amplifies oxidative stress and organ damage, particularly in reproductive tissues, underscoring the limitations of single-compound toxicity assessments and advocating for stricter regulations on endocrine disruptors in consumer products, improved wastewater treatment to reduce environmental contamination, and further research into chronic and transgenerational effects to safeguard human and ecological health.