Research progress in cardiotoxicity of organophosphate esters

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been extensively utilized worldwide as a substitution for brominated flame retardants. With an increased awareness of the need for environmental protection, the potential health risks and ecological hazards of OPEs have attracted widespread attention. As the dynamic organ of the circulatory system, the heart plays a significant role in maintaining normal life activities. Currently, there is a lack of systematic appraisal of the cardiotoxicity of OPEs. This article summarized the effects of OPEs on the morphological structure and physiological functions of the heart. It is found that these chemicals can lead to pericardial edema, abnormal looping, and thinning of atrioventricular walls in the heart, accompanied by alterations in heart rate, with toxic effects varying by the OPE type. These effects are primarily associated with the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress response, the perturbation of cytoplasmic and intranuclear signal transduction pathways in cardiomyocytes. This paper provides a theoretical basis for further understanding of the toxic effects of OPEs and contributes to environmental protection and OPEs' ecological risk assessment.