Description of 1st trimester urinary levels of phthalate and phenol metabolites in 2,356 Swedish women in the SELMA study

• BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have found the general population has been exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalates and phenols on a regular basis. Exposures to the developing fetus during critical points in the development are a concern. In the SELMA study we investigate the importance of pre and post natal exposure for EDCs and life style factors for development of chronic diseases in offspring such as asthma and allergy, reproductive related effects, neurodevelopmental disorders and metabolic effects including overweigh and obesity among small children in Sweden. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the extent of exposure to phthalates and phenols in the urine of 2,356 SELMA pregnant women. METHODS: One spot urine sample was taken during the 1st trimester (wk 10) from 2,356 pregnant (mean age=30), the first visit at the midwifery clinic in Sweden. The samples were analyzed for 10 phthalate metabolites from six different phthalates, bisphenol A and triclosan. Urine was added with isotopically labeled internal standards, digested by glucoronidase and then analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry without any further purification. The limits of detection (LODs) were between 0.01 and 0.1ng/ml and the coefficients of variation of the quality control samples generally better than 10%. RESULTS: All samples were above the LOD. The geometric mean and range of urinary concentration (ng/ml) was: MEP (68.39; [1.30-4419.35]), MBP (69.42; [3.03-2718.94]), MBzP (16.85; [0.25-3544.51]), MEHP (3.85; [0.14-213.09]), 5-oh (16.59; [0.24-1012.98]), 5-oxo (11.26; [0.05-611.77]), 5-cx (16.07; [0.73-757.17]), 7-oh (6.42; [0.06-1726.48]), 7-oxo (GM=2.98; [0.05-635.49]), 7-cx (10.03; [0.33-1661.24]), BPA (1.54; [0.05-111.26]), and Triclosan (1.25; [0.00-3356.79]). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of phthalates and phenols are prevalent in Swedish pregnant women (highly susceptible population). Sources of exposure, uptake routes and health effects in children that associated with prenatal exposures will be investigated in the SELMA study.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)