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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Early Prenatal Phthalate Exposure, Sex Steroid Hormones, and Birth Outcomes

Sheela Sathyanarayana1,2, Samantha Butts3, Christina Wang4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98121.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|March 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Early pregnancy exposure to certain phthalates may affect fetal sex hormone levels. Higher maternal free testosterone was linked to fewer male genital abnormalities, highlighting testosterone's role in development.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Environmental Health
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Adequate sex steroid hormone concentrations are crucial for fetal genital development.
  • Previous research indicated an inverse relationship between third-trimester phthalate exposure and total testosterone (TT).
  • This study investigates early-pregnancy phthalate exposure and its impact on sex hormones and newborn reproductive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine associations between early-pregnancy urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and serum sex steroid hormones (free testosterone [FT], TT, estrone [E1], estradiol [E2]).
  • To investigate the relationship between maternal hormones and newborn genital outcomes.
  • To assess the impact of phthalates on fetal development and reproductive health.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of urinary phthalate metabolites and serum sex steroid hormones in 591 woman/infant dyads.
  • Utilized The Infant Development and Environment Study cohort.
  • Employed multiple regression models with covariate adjustment to analyze hormone-genital outcome relationships.

Main Results:

  • Increased concentrations of monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate, and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxy-hexyl phthalate were associated with 15%–30% higher E1 and E2 levels.
  • Increased monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) was linked to 15% higher E2.
  • Elevated mono(carboxynonyl) phthalate (MCNP) and mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate were associated with 12% lower FT.
  • Higher maternal FT correlated with a 25% reduced prevalence of male genital abnormalities at birth.

Conclusions:

  • Phthalate metabolites MiBP, MBzP, and DEHP metabolites show unique positive associations with E1/E2, suggesting estrogenic effects in early pregnancy.
  • Inverse relationships between MCNP/DEHP metabolites and FT support prior findings on phthalate-testosterone interactions.
  • Higher FT is confirmed as important for early fetal development, evidenced by its association with fewer male genital abnormalities.
Abstract

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