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Phthalates exposure and pubertal development in a 15-year follow-up birth cohort study in Taiwan

Pen-Hua Su1,2, Jing-Yang Huang3,4, Shu-Li Julie Wang5,6

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|June 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalates, endocrine disruptors, may impact pubertal development. Certain phthalate metabolites showed associations with pubertal timing and uterine volume in children.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Phthalates are common endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
  • Exposure can occur prenatally and throughout childhood.
  • These chemicals are linked to adverse effects on child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between phthalate exposure and pubertal development.
  • To explore the relationship between prenatal and childhood phthalate levels and Tanner stages.
  • To assess phthalate metabolite associations with reproductive organ volumes and hormone levels.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based birth cohort study followed 90 children for 15 years.
  • Urine samples and developmental assessments were collected at ages 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14.
  • Logistic regression and correlation analyses were used to evaluate associations.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in phthalate metabolite levels were observed between pubertal groups in boys and girls.
  • Uterine volume at age 14 was negatively associated with several phthalate metabolites.
  • No significant correlations were found between phthalate metabolites and ovarian or testicular volume.

Conclusions:

  • Phthalate exposure at specific developmental windows may influence reproductive development during puberty.
  • Further research is needed to establish causality.
  • Timing of exposure is critical for potential developmental impacts.
Abstract

Keywords:
birth cohortdevelopment of reproductive organsendocrine-disrupting chemicalsphthalatespubertal development

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