Early life phthalate exposure and atopic disorders in children: A prospective birth cohort study

• Published in: Environment international 2014-01, Vol.62, p.48-54
• Main Authors: Wang, I-Jen, Lin, Ching-Chun, Lin, Yen-Ju, Hsieh, Wu-Shiun, Chen, Pau-Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Allergic diseases; Atopic dermatitis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Child; Children; Cohort Studies; Cohort study; Dermatitis, Atopic - epidemiology; Disorders; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exposure; Female; Humans; IgE; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunopathology; Infant; Male; Maternal Exposure; MBzP; Medical sciences; MEHP; Metabolites; Phthalates; Phthalic Acids - metabolism; Phthalic Acids - urine; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prospective Studies; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Serums; Sex Factors; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Taiwan - epidemiology; Toxicology; Urine
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.09.002

The role of phthalate exposure at different stages in the immune system and atopic disorders is not well-known. This study aims to evaluate the effects of prenatal and postnatal phthalate exposures on immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and atopic dermatitis (AD) in children by objective biomarkers. We conducted a prospective Taiwan Birth Panel cohort study with 483 mother/infant pairs. Finally, 161 urine specimens at 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 219 urine specimens from children at age 2, and 192 urine specimens at age 5 were analyzed after excluding missing data and loss to follow-up. Urine monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) at 3rd trimester of pregnancy and at ages 2 and 5 were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. At ages 2 and 5, information on the development of AD and serum total IgE was collected. The association between urine phthalate metabolite levels at different stages and serum IgE and AD was evaluated by multivariate linear regression and logistic regression. Urine phthalate metabolite levels were higher at age 2 than those at pregnancy and age 5. At each period, urine MBP levels were higher than MEP, MEHP, and MBzP. MEHP levels at age 2 positively correlated with serum IgE levels (per ln-unit: β=0.191, p=0.02). Analyses stratified by gender revealed that MEHP levels positively correlated with serum IgE levels only in boys (per ln-unit: β=0.256, p=0.03). When dividing into quartiles, urine MBzP levels at age 2 had a significant association with AD. We found no statistically significant association of other phthalate metabolites with IgE and AD. Early life phthalate exposure may increase the risk of allergic sensitization and atopic disorders. •We study the effect of phthalate exposure at different stages on atopic disorders.•Phthalate levels were higher at age 2 than those at pregnancy and age 5.•Phthalate levels positively correlated with serum IgE levels only in boys.•The health effects may vary with different kinds of phthalates.•Early life phthalate exposure may increase the risk of atopic disorders.