ESPE2022 Poster Category 1 Fetal, Neonatal Endocrinology and Metabolism (30 abstracts)
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mothers, Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; 2Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Nowadays, they are considered reproductive toxicants and in-utero exposure is well documented, although evidence of early life exposure is scarce, and needs to be described. Aim of this study is to assess phthalate exposure and its changes over the first months of life in a cohort of healthy full term infants and their mothers from a restricted area of the north of Italy.
Methods: Single-center, prospective birth-cohort study, assessing phthalate exposure in urine samples collected from mothers after the delivery and in their infants at birth(T0), 3(T3) and 6(T6) months. In infants, the collection was performed using phthalate-free bags. After solid-phase extraction, samples were analysed by triple Quad LC/MS Mass Spectrometry.
Results: 188 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. Data are summarised in the table. % represents the amount of positive detection (>LOD) for each sample. Significant associations between mother-infant pairs at birth were found for MMP, MEP, and MnBP. Significant relation in infant levels of phthalates at 3 and 6 months are represented by the ‘p’ column of the table, suggesting a continuative exposure to these chemicals during the indoor activities.
MOTHER | NEWBORN/INFANT | ||||||||
T0 | T0 | T3 | T6 | ||||||
ng/ml | % | Mean (±SD) | % | Mean (±SD) | % | Mean (±SD) | % | Mean (±SD) | P |
monomethyl phthalate(MMP) | 66 | 0.504±0.61 | 66 | 0.469±1.01 | 85 | 0.500±0.86 | 95 | 0.992±2.58 | 0.004 |
monoethylphthalate(MEP) | 100 | 45.789±148.21 | 100 | 31.572±40.72 | 100 | 56.442±178.86 | 100 | 86.649±263.11 | 0.037 |
mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) | 32 | 1.547±1.89 | 24 | 1.233±0.99 | 18 | 2.186±2.36 | 41 | 1.230±1.26 | <0.001 |
mono-(2-Ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate(MEHHP) | 98 | 3.370±10.29 | 94 | 2.331±3.44 | 94 | 1.282±1.56 | 99 | 4.016±5.27 | <0.001 |
mono-(2-Ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate(MEOHP) | 100 | 2.629±5.91 | 98 | 1.626±2.66 | 98 | 1.189±1.43 | 100 | 3.243±3.64 | <0.001 |
mono-n-butylphthalate(MnBP) | 94 | 12.093±27.31 | 93 | 14.471±17.47 | 100 | 5.496±10.75 | 100 | 6.809±10.46 | <0.001 |
monobenzylphthalate(MBzP) | 99 | 3.648±3.28 | 99 | 6.673±8.35 | 94 | 2.322±6.40 | 98 | 2.555±3.58 | <0.001 |
Conclusions: Phthalate exposure appears wide and extended over the first months of life. The exposure included phthalates more toxic and strictly regulated by the European Union that are still ubiquitous in unregulated consumers’ products. A long term follow-up for at-risk categories, as infants who spend long time in indoor activities, is needed to detect endocrine and neurodevelopmental effects. Our results suggest the need for public health preventive actions to protect vulnerable subjects.