Parental Concern about Environmental Chemical Exposures and Children's Urinary Concentrations of Phthalates and Phenols

Abstract

Objectives To examine whether parents' concerns about environmental chemical exposures were associated with urinary phthalate and phenol concentrations in their school-age children. Study design In a prospective cohort of 218 mother-child pairs from Cincinnati, OH (2010-2014), we measured 11 phthalate metabolites and 5 phenols in urine samples when children were age 8 years and used questionnaire data from caregivers. We estimated the covariate-adjusted percent difference in phthalates and phenols among children of parents who expressed concern about environmental chemical exposures compared with children whose parents did not. Results Concentrations of four phthalates, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol A (BPA) were lower among children whose parents expressed concern about environmental chemicals (n= 122) compared with those who did not (n=96). Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites, BPS, and BPA concentrations were 23% (95% CI:-38, -5), 37% (95% CI:-49, -21), and 13% (95% CI:-26, 3) lower, respectively, among children whose parents expressed concern compared with those whose parents did not. Triclosan concentrations were 35% higher (95% CI:-2, 87) among children whose parents expressed concern compared with children whose parents did not. Conclusions Parental concern about environmental chemicals was associated with lower childhood urine concentrations of several phthalates and phenols; unexpectedly, parental concern was associated with higher triclosan concentrations. These results suggest that parental concern may be an important factor in mitigating children's phthalate and phenol exposures.

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Practices Concerning Indoor Environmental Pollution of Parents or Future Parents

“…Some studies have evaluated the perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding the indoor pollution of parents or future parents. In the United States, a study has shown that the more parents are concerned about exposure to environmental chemical compounds, the more their children’s exposure to these compounds is reduced [ 26 ]. In France, most studies have focused on the perceptions [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] or knowledge [ 27 ] of pregnant women.…”

The Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Protective Behavioral Intentions against PM2.5 in Parents of Young Children from Urban and Rural Beijing, China

“…One study suggested that parents’ perceptions and behavior at home with respect to smoking affected the exposure of their preschool children to air pollution, as demonstrated by altered urine composition [ 19 ]. Hence, parents’ attitudes toward exposure to environmental chemicals can potentially be associated with chemical concentrations in their children’s urine [ 20 ]. On the other hand, some studies have argued that children, through their learning about the environment from school education, can also transmit environmental knowledge and attitudes to their parents, thus affecting their parents’ environmental behaviors [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Awareness of parents about risk to children’s health arising from exposure to selected chemicals passing from plastic food packaging

“…Należy również zwrócić uwagę, iż rodzaj opakowania produktu spożywczego był bardziej istotny dla kobiet aniżeli dla mężczyzn. Badania własne potwierdzają wyniki innych autorów, że rodzice nie są świadomi faktu, iż syntetyczne pojemniki pod wpływem temperatury uwalniają do żywności niebezpieczne toksyny [35,36].…”