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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Exposure to phthalates and phenols during pregnancy and offspring size at birth

Claire Philippat1, Marion Mortamais, Cécile Chevrier

  • 1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Institut Albert Bonniot (U823), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Grenoble, France. Claire.Philippat@e.ujf-grenoble.fr

Environmental Health Perspectives
|September 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to certain phenols, like 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCP), was linked to lower male birth weight, while Benzophenone-3 (BP3) showed a positive association. Phthalate metabolite exposures did not demonstrate clear links to birth weight in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental health
  • Reproductive toxicology
  • Human developmental biology

Background:

  • Limited human data exists on prenatal phthalate and phenol exposure effects on fetal growth.
  • Previous research suggests phenols may impact male birth weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and phenols and fetal growth in male newborns.
  • To quantify the impact of specific chemical exposures on birth weight, length, and head circumference.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study of male genital malformations was conducted within French mother-child cohorts (2002-2006).
  • Maternal urinary samples were analyzed for 9 phenol and 11 phthalate metabolites.
  • Birth weight, length, and head circumference data were collected from maternity records.

Main Results:

  • Increased urinary concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and 2,5-DCP were associated with decreased adjusted birth weight.
  • Benzophenone-3 (BP3) exposure was positively associated with birth weight and head circumference.
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure showed a positive association with increased head circumference.
  • No clear monotonic associations were found between phthalate metabolite exposure and birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support an inverse relationship between 2,5-DCP exposure and male birth weight.
  • Benzophenone-3 (BP3) exposure was positively associated with male birth weight, consistent with prior research.
  • The study highlights potential differential impacts of phenols on fetal growth parameters in males.
Abstract

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