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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates and childhood bone mass: a population-based prospective cohort study
Charissa van Zwol-Janssens1, Leonardo Trasande2, Alexandros G Asimakopoulos3
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Insights
Fetal exposure to bisphenol S (BPS) may negatively impact children's bone mineral density (BMD) and bone area (aBMC) by age 10. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Bone Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates is a growing concern.
- These chemicals may have lasting effects on child development, including bone health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates and bone health indicators in school-aged children.
- To determine if prenatal exposure to these chemicals has persistent effects on bone development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 1,362 mother-child pairs was conducted.
- Maternal urinary bisphenol and phthalate levels were measured during pregnancy.
- Bone mineral density (BMD), bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and area-adjusted BMC (aBMC) were assessed in children at ages 6 and 10 using DXA.
Main Results:
- Maternal first-trimester bisphenol S (BPS) exposure was linked to reduced BMD and aBMC at age 10.
- Associations between third-trimester low molecular weight phthalates and bone health at age 6, and di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) and bone health at age 10, were observed but not statistically significant after multiple testing correction.
Conclusions:
- Maternal first-trimester BPS exposure may be associated with poorer bone health in school-aged children.
- These findings are hypothesis-generating and require further investigation and replication to elucidate underlying mechanisms.
Background:
Exposure to bisphenols and phthalates might influence bone health. We hypothesized that exposure to bisphenols and phthalates during fetal life has persistent effects on bone development.
Objectives:
To analyze the associations of fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates with bone health in school-aged children.
Methods:
Among 1,362 mother-child pairs participating in a population-based cohort study, we measured maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenols and phthalates at first, second and third trimester with high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Total body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone area (BA) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at 6 and 10 years, and were both used to calculate bone mineral content (BMC) and area-adjusted BMC (aBMC, a measure of volumetric BMD).
Results:
Maternal bisphenol concentrations were not associated with childhood bone measures at 6 years. After adjustment for covariates and multiple testing correction, an interquartile range increase in maternal first trimester bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations was associated with lower BMD and aBMC at 10 years (-6.08 (95% confidence interval (CI), -9.97 to -2.19) mg/cm2 and -0.12 (95% CI, -0.20 to -0.04) g). Maternal third trimester low molecular weight (LMW) phthalate concentrations were associated with higher aBMC at 6 years whereas, maternal third trimester di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) concentrations were associated with lower aBMC at 10 years. However, these associations did not remain statistically significant after multiple testing correction.
Discussion:
Maternal first trimester BPS concentrations are associated with lower BMD and aBMC in school-aged children. These findings should be considered as hypothesis generating and need further replication and exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.
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