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Urinary biomarkers for phthalates associated with asthma in Norwegian children

Randi J Bertelsen1, Karin C Lødrup Carlsen, Antonia M Calafat

  • 1Department of Food, Water and Cosmetics, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. randi.jacobsen.bertelsen@fhi.no

Environmental Health Perspectives
|November 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

High phthalate metabolite levels, specifically mono(carboxyoctyl) phthalate (MCOP) and mono(carboxynonyl) phthalate (MCNP), were linked to increased asthma risk in children. These findings highlight potential environmental health concerns for childhood respiratory conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Asthma
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • High-molecular-weight phthalates in indoor dust are linked to childhood asthma.
  • Limited research exists on phthalate biomarkers and respiratory health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and current asthma in children.
  • To identify specific phthalate metabolites that may serve as biomarkers for asthma risk.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 623 10-year-old Norwegian children.
  • Measurement of 11 phthalate metabolites in first morning void urine samples.
  • Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders.

Main Results:

  • Current asthma was associated with the highest quartiles of mono(carboxyoctyl) phthalate (MCOP) and mono(carboxynonyl) phthalate (MCNP).
  • The adjusted odds ratio for asthma was 1.9 for the highest MCOP quartile and 2.2 for the highest MCNP quartile.
  • No significant associations were found for other phthalate metabolites.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated urinary MCOP and MCNP concentrations are associated with current asthma in children.
  • These metabolites, derived from diisononyl phthalate and diisodecyl phthalate, may indicate increased asthma risk.
  • Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the study's cross-sectional design and short phthalate half-life.
Abstract

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