Phthalate Levels in Cord Blood Are Associated with Preterm Delivery and Fetal Growth Parameters in Chinese Women

Abstract

Data concerning the effects of phthalate exposure on preterm delivery and fetal growth are limited in humans. In this paper, we assessed the relationship between 15 phthalate levels in cord blood and preterm delivery and fetal growth parameters in 207 Chinese women going into labor. Exposure to phthalates except DCHP was associated with gestational age reduction and preterm delivery (p<0.05). There were associations between phthalates and fetal growth parameters, many of which disappeared when analyses were adjusted for gestational age, especially in male infants (Only DEEP was associated with birth weight; DEP, DNHP, BBP, DNP with abdominal circumference; DEP, DBP, DCHP, DEHP with femur length in female infants. And DPP, DBEP was associated with birth length in male infants. p<0.05). This study indicates that prenatal exposure to phthalates is associated with younger gestational age and preterm delivery. Also, phthalate exposure may adversely affect fetal growth parameters via gestational age reduction and preterm delivery with a significant gender effect.

Effect of environmental phthalate exposure on pregnancy duration and birth outcomes

“…They are used as coating for pharmaceuticals or in personal care products, including cosmetics or perfumes [1]. High-molecular weight been found in amniotic fluid, placental tissue, cord blood and neonatal meconium [2][3][4][5][6]. During prenatal period there is a critical window for organ and system development when exposure to chemicals, at the level that is not dangerous for adults, may adversely affect morphology and functioning of the systems.…”

“…Birth outcomes, such as birth weight, have been frequently used for evaluation of fetal development and have been indicated to predict occurrence of diseases and neurodevelopment delay later in life [7][8][9]. Several studies on the effects of prenatal phthalate exposure on pregnancy duration and birth outcomes have been published [4][5][6][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. However, the studies evaluating the impact of phthalate exposure on duration of pregnancy are not consistent.…”

Environmental contamination with phthalates and its impact on living organisms

“…The available reference literature contains relatively few publications dealing with this problem. Phthalates may have an adverse effect on the growth parameters of a foetus and cause premature labour [34]. Prenatal exposure to DEEP (bis (2-ethoxyethyl) phthalate) has been associated with a low weight at birth; DEP, DNHP (dihexyl phthalate), BBP, DNP (dinonyl phthalate) have been correlated with the abdominal circumference, DEP, DBP, DCHP (dicyclohexyl phthalate), DEHP has been associated with the femure length in female neonates, while DPP and DBEP have been implicated as influencing the length of male newborns.…”

“…However, it needs to be added that the daily intake of MEHP by breastfed infants was below the acceptable threshold. Huang et al [34] claim that the level of DBP in umbilical cord blood was more strongly connected with the body weight at birth than with its content in the venous blood, milk or urine of the mother. Thus, it should be said thatconsidering the low immunity of young organisms (neonates) -it is justifiable to reduce the intake of phthalates with food consumed by breastfeeding mothers.…”

Early-life risk factors for chronic nonrespiratory diseases

“…Furthermore, there appear to be relationships of environmental toxins with birth at lower gestational age, and phthalates [55,56] and perfluorinated compounds [51,53] with preterm birth.…”