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Baby care products: possible sources of infant phthalate exposure
Sheela Sathyanarayana1, Catherine J Karr, Paula Lozano
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Division of General Pediatrics, Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Building 296200, NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115-8160, USA. sathyana@u.washington.edu
Insights
Infant exposure to phthalates from lotions, powders, and shampoos is common. Higher product use correlates with increased phthalate levels, especially in younger infants who are more vulnerable.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Phthalates are ubiquitous man-made chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting effects.
- Concerns exist regarding male reproductive development alterations due to phthalate exposure.
- Infant exposure sources, particularly from personal care products, require further characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal-reported infant care product use and urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in infants.
- To identify specific infant care products linked to phthalate exposure.
- To examine the impact of the number of products used on phthalate metabolite levels.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples from 163 infants (born 2000-2005) were analyzed for 9 phthalate metabolites.
- Infant exposure was defined by maternal reports of product use within 24 hours of urine collection.
- Multiple linear regression and z-score standardization were used to analyze metabolite concentrations in exposed versus unexposed infants.
Main Results:
- Over 80% of infants had detectable levels of 7 or more phthalate metabolites.
- Exposure to lotion, powder, and shampoo significantly predicted higher concentrations of specific phthalate metabolites (monoethyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, monoisobutyl phthalate).
- Increased numbers of products used were associated with higher phthalate metabolite concentrations, particularly in younger infants.
Conclusions:
- Phthalate exposure in infants via common personal care products like lotions, powders, and shampoos is widespread and variable.
- The number of products used directly correlates with increased infant phthalate metabolite levels.
- Younger infants may be more susceptible to potential phthalate toxicity due to their developing systems and higher relative exposure.
Objectives:
Phthalates are man-made chemicals found in personal care and other products. Recent studies suggest that some phthalates can alter human male reproductive development, but sources of infant exposure have not been well characterized. We investigated the relationship between phthalate metabolite concentrations in infant urine and maternal reported use of dermally applied infant care products.
Methods:
We measured 9 phthalate metabolites in 163 infants who were born in 2000-2005. An infant was considered to have been exposed to any infant care product that the mother reported using on her infant within 24 hours of urine collection. Results of multiple linear regression analyses are reported as the ratio of metabolite concentrations (with 95% confidence intervals) in exposed and unexposed infants. We standardized concentrations by forming z scores and examined combined exposure to multiple metabolites.
Results:
In most (81%) infants, > or = 7 phthalate metabolites were above the limit of detection. Exposure to lotion was predictive of monoethyl phthalate and monomethyl phthalate concentrations, powder of monoisobutyl phthalate, and shampoo of monomethyl phthalate. Z scores increased with number of products used. Most associations were stronger in younger infants.
Conclusions:
Phthalate exposure is widespread and variable in infants. Infant exposure to lotion, powder, and shampoo were significantly associated with increased urinary concentrations of monoethyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, and monoisobutyl phthalate, and associations increased with the number of products used. This association was strongest in young infants, who may be more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates given their immature metabolic system capability and increased dosage per unit body surface area.
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