Nonylphenols are a family of closely related organic compounds. They are used in manufacturing antioxidants, lubricating oil additives, laundry and dish detergents, emulsifiers, and solubilizers. These compounds are also precursors to the commercially important non-ionic surfactants alkylphenol ethoxylates and nonylphenol ethoxylates, which are used in detergents, paints, pesticides, personal care products, and plastics.
Sources of Exposure: Lubricating oil additives; laundry and dish detergents; emulsifiers and solubilizers
Health Impacts: Nonylphenols are toxic compounds classified as endocrine disruptors, thus capable of interfering with the hormone system. They can cause the feminization of aquatic organisms and decrease male fertility and the survival of juveniles. Early prenatal exposure to low doses of nonylphenol have caused an increase in cell death in placental cells. Nonylphenol has also been shown to cause implantation failure, pregnancy loss, and other fertility complications in humans. Nonylphenol has been linked to obesity. Long-term exposure to nonylphenol has been shown to affect insulin signaling in the liver of adult male rats. Nonylphenol's endocrine disruptor eff