193: Assessing urinary phthalates during pregnancy by food and beverage consumption habits

Abstract

To identify behaviors associated with phthalate exposure and to characterize heterogeneity during pregnancy by maternal race. A birth cohort study of phthalate exposure for 378 African American and white women in the second trimester of pregnancy. We collected urine for phthalates analysis and dietary and lifestyle data at the time of enrollment. Principle components analysis (PCA) was used to identify independent predictor variables for describing clustered food and beverage consumption habits given strong correlations among the variables. Principal component 1 (PC1) habits included high organic and unprocessed food intake, the highest consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables while pregnant, and the highest use of safe plastics. Principle component 2 (PC2) habits included the use of plastics for food storage, microwaving in plastic containers, use of hard plastic water bottles, and the lowest organic food consumption. Principle component 3 (PC3) habits included the consumption of the highest quantities of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables while pregnant, and the lowest use of plastic food storage. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between individual phthalates and food and beverage consumption habits, adjusted for confounders. African Americans had significantly greater concentrations of every urinary phthalate metabolite compared to whites(p< 0.0001) for MBP, MiBP, MBzP, MEP, and MMP and MEHP (p< 0.01). PCA showed that greater reported use of plastics for food storage, microwaving in plastic containers, use of hard plastic water bottles, and lowest organic food consumption outside of pregnancy were associated with racial differences in phthalate levels. Behavioral patterns regarding use of soft plastics, microwaving in plastics, and canned foods correlated with the greatest levels of urinary phthalate exposure. These patterns of nutritional consumption can be targeted to limit gestational exposure to phthalates.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)