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Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates and infant neurobehavior

Kimberly Yolton1, Yingying Xu, Donna Strauss

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, United States. kimberly.yolton@cchmc.org

Neurotoxicology and Teratology
|August 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, like DBP, may improve infant behavior, while DEHP is linked to altered reflexes in males. Bisphenol A (BPA) showed no significant association with infant neurobehavior.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Developmental Toxicology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates is a growing concern.
  • These chemicals can cross the placenta and potentially impact fetal development, including neurobehavioral outcomes.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for public health and developmental guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal urinary levels of BPA and common phthalates during pregnancy and infant neurobehavior at 5 weeks of age.
  • To determine if the timing of prenatal exposure (16 vs. 26 weeks gestation) influences the observed associations.
  • To assess specific neurobehavioral domains using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 350 mother/infant pairs was recruited.
  • Maternal urine samples were collected at 16 and 26 weeks of gestation to measure BPA and phthalate metabolite concentrations.
  • Infant neurobehavior was assessed at 5 weeks postpartum using the NNNS.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between prenatal BPA exposure and infant neurobehavioral outcomes.
  • Significant associations between phthalate exposure and infant neurobehavior were observed only when exposure was measured at 26 weeks gestation.
  • Higher di-butyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites at 26 weeks were linked to improved behavioral organization (decreased arousal, increased self-regulation).
  • Higher di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites at 26 weeks in males were associated with more nonoptimal reflexes.

Conclusions:

  • The impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on infant neurobehavior is dependent on the specific phthalate and the timing of exposure during pregnancy.
  • Prenatal DBP exposure may be associated with beneficial effects on behavioral organization in infants.
  • Prenatal DEHP exposure may be linked to altered reflex patterns in male infants.
  • Prenatal BPA exposure did not demonstrate a significant association with infant neurobehavior in this cohort.
Abstract

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