Environmental occurrence, human exposure and multidimensional toxicity effects of 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP): Toxicological mechanism analysis and future research prospects

2-Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) is one of the most abundantly used organophosphate esters (OPEs). Owing to its excellent flame-retardant and plasticizing properties, EHDPP has been applied in various diverse fields, such as packaging materials, building, and electronic products. Environmental monitoring data have revealed that EHDPP was presented in multiple environmental media, including soil, water, and air. EHDPP is able to penetrate the human body via skin contact, dietary exposure, and respiratory inhalation. Studies have detected EHDPP in human serum (<0.173 ng/mL - 2.33 ng/mL), urine (<0.016 ng/mL - 0.087 ng/mL), and breast milk (0.0382 ng/mL- 0.0411 ng/mL), indicating its environmental persistence and bioaccumulative properties. EHDPP exhibited multidimensional toxicity, including neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, influencing lipid metabolism, and increasing the risk of cancer. Our review elaborates on the environmental occurrence, human exposure, toxic effects, and toxicological mechanism of EHDPP, and providing a scientific basis for precise environmental management and chemical risk and in turn early warning.