Associations of urinary phthalate metabolites with household environments among mothers and their preschool-age children

Hsing-Kang Chen; Yu-Hsun Chang; Chien-Wen Sun; Ming-Tsang Wu; Mei-Lien Chen; Shu-Li Wang; Chia-Jung Hsieh

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Sep 2023)

Associations of urinary phthalate metabolites with household environments among mothers and their preschool-age children

Hsing-Kang Chen,
Yu-Hsun Chang,
Chien-Wen Sun,
Ming-Tsang Wu,
Mei-Lien Chen,
Shu-Li Wang,
Chia-Jung Hsieh

Affiliations

Hsing-Kang Chen: Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Psychiatry, Yuli Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC
Yu-Hsun Chang: Department of Pediatrics, Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
Chien-Wen Sun: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
Ming-Tsang Wu: Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
Mei-Lien Chen: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Shu-Li Wang: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC; Correspondence to: 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan, ROC.
Chia-Jung Hsieh: Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC; Correspondence to: No. 701, Section 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien, Hualien 970, Taiwan, ROC.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 262
p. 115162

Abstract

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Phthalates have become a matter of public health concern due to their extensive use worldwide and negative health effects. The evaluation of potential sources of phthalate exposure is crucial to design prevention strategies, especially for vulnerable populations. This study included 528 mother-child pairs in the Taiwan Mother Infant Cohort Study who were followed up at ages 3–6 years between 2016 and 2020. Each mother was interviewed by using a structured questionnaire containing questions on demographic characteristics and household environment factors, such as the use of plastic food packaging, residential visible mold, insecticide sprays, and electric mosquito repellents. Eleven phthalate metabolites were analyzed in urine samples simultaneously collected from the mother-child pairs. The phthalate metabolite urinary concentrations were higher among the children than among their mothers, except those of mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that urine samples collected during the summer showed higher concentrations of phthalate metabolites than those collected during the winter. Family income levels had negative associations with the concentrations of MnBP and metabolites of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in children. The use of plastic food packaging was positively associated with mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and metabolites of DEHP in mothers. Residential visible mold or mold stains were significantly associated with higher MnBP and DEHP metabolite concentrations in children. The use of insecticide sprays was positively associated with MnBP concentrations in children. Significant associations between household environmental factors and phthalate exposure were mostly found in children, potentially indicating different exposure pathways between mothers and their children. Findings from this study provide additional information for the design of prevention strategies to protect the health of children and women.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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