Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning

Abstract

BackgroundExperimental and observational studies have reported biological consequences of phthalate exposure relevant to neurodevelopment.ObjectiveOur goal was to examine the association of prenatal phthalate exposure with behavior and executive functioning at 4–9 years of age.MethodsThe Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Study enrolled a multiethnic prenatal population in New York City between 1998 and 2002 (n = 404). Third-trimester maternal urines were collected and analyzed for phthalate metabolites. Children (n = 188, n = 365 visits) were assessed for cognitive and behavioral development between the ages of 4 and 9 years.ResultsIn multivariate adjusted models, increased loge concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) phthalate metabolites were associated with poorer scores on the aggression [β = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15– 2.34], conduct problems (β = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.34–3.46), attention problems (β = 1.29; 95% CI, 0.16– 2.41), and depression (β = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.11–2.24) clinical scales; and externalizing problems (β = 1.75; 95% CI, 0.61–2.88) and behavioral symptom index (β = 1.55; 95% CI, 0.39–2.71) composite scales. Increased loge concentrations of LMW phthalates were also associated with poorer scores on the global executive composite index (β = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.09–2.36) and the emotional control scale (β = 1.33; 95% CI, 0.18– 2.49).ConclusionBehavioral domains adversely associated with prenatal exposure to LMW phthalates in our study are commonly found to be affected in children clinically diagnosed with conduct or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

May BPA and phthalates have a role in etiopathogenesis of ADHD?

“…35 Also, there are studies which suggest that exposure to phthalates is associated with ADHD and ADHD behaviours, specifically conduct problems and concentration or orientation. [36][37][38] In our study, we found serum BPA and MEHP levels were higher in the ADHD group when compared to healthy controls. The high level of BPA and MEHP in the ADHD group may be related to those dopamine hypotheses.…”

Exposure to phthalates: Reproductive outcome and children health. A review of epidemiological studies

“…Based on results presented above, there seems to be possible association between exposure to phthalates (DEHP, and BBzP ) and the occurrence of asthma symptoms and allergy. The PCV flooring at home and the plastic wall urine [8,14,15,18,43,[49][50][51][52][53][54][57][58][59][60][61]64,73]. As phthalates are metabolized to their monoesters within a few hours or days [79,80], urinary phthalate monoesters are considered good biomarkers for assessing phthalate exposure in humans [8,62,[80][81][82].…”

“…The observed risks are generally presumed to be related to the endocrine altering properties of these chemicals [57,61]. In all those studies, exposure to phthalates was associated with neurodevelopmental disorders reflected by significantly poorer scores on conduct problems [60], quality of alertness among girls [57], decreased (less masculine) composite score in boys [61] and lower concentrations and vocabulary score among boys [59] as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [58].…”

“…The association of prenatal phthalate exposure with behavior and executive functioning at 4-9 years of age was examined in multiethnic prenatal population in New York City. However, in multivariate adjusted models, increasing log e concentrations of low molecular weight phthalate metabolites (MBP, MEP, MiBP, MMP) were significantly associated only with poorer scores on conduct problems [60]. Another study in the United States assessed the play behavior in relation to phthalate metabolites [MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, ∑DEHP, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MNBP), MiBP, ∑DBP] concentration in prenatal urine samples.…”

Dealing with phthalates in medical devices: a case of primum non nocere (first do no harm)?

“…Phthalate (mainly DEHP) exposure has been associated with impairment of neurobehavioral development in infants and children in epidemiological studies over the last 6 years, with a focus mainly on attention deficit [11][12][13][14][15]; the DEHP exposure in such studies was orders of magnitude lower than those encountered in ICU. Readers should keep in mind that DEHP exposure in non-ICU children derives mainly from diet, raising the possibility of confounding with dietary factors.…”