Prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalate diesters and sex steroid hormones in 2-, 5-, 8-, and 11-year-old children: A pilot study of the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundPhthalate diesters are commonly used and have been well established as environmental endocrine disruptors. However, few studies have examined their effects on sex steroid hormones in children. We followed children over time to examine the association between pre- and post-natal phthalate exposure and sex steroid hormone levels at 2, 5, 8, and 11 years of age.MethodsWe recruited 430 pregnant women from central Taiwan from 2000 to 2001 and assessed their children at birth, 2, 5, 8, and 11 years of age. We studies children with at least one measurement for both phthalate and hormone levels during each any of the follow-up time point (n = 193). Estradiol, free testosterone, testosterone, and progesterone were measured from venous blood. Three monoesters of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), mono-benzyl phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-ethyl phthalate, and mono-methyl phthalate were measured in maternal urine collected during the 3rd trimester and child urine collected at each follow-up point. The sum of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (∑MEHP) was calculated by summing the concentrations of the three DEHP monoesters. Generalized estimating equation regression analysis with repeated measures was used to estimate associations between phthalate metabolites and hormone levels.ResultsAfter adjustment for potential confounders, maternal ∑MEHP level was associated with decreased levels of progesterone in girls (β = −0.309 p = 0.001). The child ∑MEHP concentration was associated with decreased levels of progesterone for girls (β = −0.194, p = 0.003) and with decreased levels of free testosterone for boys (β = −0.124, p = 0.004).ConclusionsEarly-life DEHP exposure may alter sex steroid hormones of children over time, which may pose potential reproductive health risks.

Exposure to phthalates is associated with acute urticaria in children

“…11 Thus, it is possible that phthalates induce urticaria in children by interfering with endogenous reproductive hormones and stimulating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signal pathway. 12 Moreover, our results, showing a clear relationship between exposure to phthalates and urticaria in 7-year-old children, provide further support for these previous findings.…”

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced toxicity and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha: a review

“…In Taiwan, maternal urinary levels of DEHP metabolites were negatively correlated with the free T and T/E2 levels in the cord blood [61]. Child-only or both maternal and child DEHP metabolite levels were associated with decreased levels of free T in males or decreased levels of P4 in females, respectively [62]. Additionally, some epidemiological studies suggest an inverse association between DEHP exposure and neurodevelopmental effects [63–65].…”

Effect of phthalates exposure during perinatal period on hormonal profile in Mexican males during their first months of life

“…Male hormones are found in all stages of reproductive life of males, from development to adulthood. In humans, the hypothalamic-hypophysis- gonads axis is active since early months of postnatal life, it allows us measure sexual hormone levels and determine if there were phthalate exposure [ 12 , 13 ]. Phthalates acts as endocrine disruptors.…”