Phthalate Urinary Metabolites Linked to Food and Personal Care Products in Mother-Child Pairs

by | Sep 30, 2019 | 2014, Environmental Health, Infant and Children's Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Study reveals a significant correlations between phthalate urinary metabolites of mothers and their children and the environment, diet, and use of personal care products.
In industrial countries, consumers are exposed to a variety of toxins, both in the immediate vicinity of their residential communities as well as within individual households. Industrial chemicals range from phthalates (used as plasticizers) and bisphenol A (BPA, used in plastics and epoxy resins) to parabens (used as preservatives in cosmetic products) and triclosan (TCS, antibacterial used in soaps, detergents, toys, and other products) 1,2. These chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors, and exposure, whether though inhalation, dermal exposure, or ingestion, is associated with a host of adverse health effects, including alterations in the development of the reproductive system (phthalates) 3,4, abnormal nervous system function (BPA) 5, and changes in levels of thyroid hormones 6,7. While researchers debate the maximum concentration that can still be considered safe for certain chemicals, it is clear that even at low-levels of exposure, certain toxins such as BPA 8, for example, can still pose a negative health risk. In a 2014 study 9 published in Environmental International, investigators in Sweden sought to evaluate levels of phthalate metabolites, parabens, BPA, and TCS in urine samples of mothers and their children and determine potential predictors of exposure.

A total of 98 mother-child pairs (mothers under 45 years of age, children aged 6 to 11 years) living in an urban or rural area of Sweden for at least 3 years were enrolled to participate in the cross-sectional population-based study. Mothers completed an extension questionnaire evaluating sociodemographic and lifestyle information, living environment, food consumption, use of personal care products, and smoking. First morning urine samples from 98 mother-child pairs were analyzed for concentrations of four metabolites of 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), three metabolites of di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), methylparaben (MetP), ethylparaben (EthP), propylparaben (ProP), butylparaben, benzylparaben, BPA, and TCS.

Analyses revealed that except for MEP, children had generally higher concentrations of phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP, ΣDiNP, MBzP, MnBP), compared to mothers (p < 0.05 for all) and that there were significant correlations for phthalate urinary metabolites between mothers and children (r = 0.24-0.62, p = < 0.001-0.03) (except for mono-carboxy-isooctyl phthalate, cx-MiNP). Living in a rural area vs. an urban area was associated with significantly higher levels of MBzP, MnBP, and MEP for mothers and children (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively for both groups). In children, consumption of ice cream was significantly associated with DEHP and DiNP levels (p < 0.05 for both), and in mothers, chocolate consumption was linked to DEHP (p < 0.01). For parabens (MetP) and MEP, mothers exhibited significantly higher levels, compared to their children (p < 0.05 for both). Mothers using a higher number of personal care products (make-up, shampoo, lotion, fragrance, etc.) showed significantly higher levels of MetP and ProP (p < 0.01 for both). In children, higher levels of MetP and ProP were associated with living in an urban area vs. rural area (p < 0.01 for both).

Findings from the study reveal significant correlations between phthalate urinary metabolites of mothers and their children, suggesting a differential influence of various exposure sources on mothers and children. For example, while urinary levels of phthalates were linked to food consumption in both mothers and children (chocolate in mothers, ice cream in children), paraben levels were primarily associated with maternal use of cosmetic and personal care products. Residential environment was also identified as a predictor of exposure, with paraben levels being higher among children living in an urban area and phthalate metabolite levels being higher among mothers and children living in a rural area. General findings provide initial insight into the level of chemical exposure faced by mothers and their children in Sweden as well as the various sources of such contaminant exposure. Potential limitations of the present study should be considered, including the use of a self-report questionnaire to measure determinants of exposure, the limited number of exposure sources listed in the questionnaire, and a relatively small sample size.

Source: Larsson K, Bjorklund KL, Palm B, et al. Exposure determinants of phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A, and triclosan in Swedish mothers and their children. Environmental International. 2014; 73: 323-333. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.08.014.

© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-SA license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Posted September 30, 2019.

Click here to read the full text study.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
 

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