Factors Associated with Internal Phthalate Exposure among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the potential factors related to phthalic acid ester (PAE) exposure in pregnant women using multivariate statistical methods. Methods: The study was conducted from April to June 2013 in Xiamen, China. A total of 1020 pregnant women (gestational age ≤16 weeks) met the criteria for inclusion in the cohort. We selected 100 participants by systematic random sampling. Participant information was collected by questionnaires, and urine samples were collected, detect five PAEs (MEP; MBzP; MBP; MEHP; and MMP) levels in urine samples. Single-factor and multi-factor logistic analysis were used to analyze the association between PAE exposure levels and potential associated factors. Results: After creatinine adjustment, medians of the five PAEs in the 100 urine samples were 54.64 μg/g, 29.25 μg/g, 17.56 μg/g, 3.91 μg/g, and 53.79 μg/g, respectively. Multivariate analysis results indicated that MMP was associated with education level and the use of hair permanents, hair dyes, and hair dryers; ORs were 0.560 and 2.056, respectively. MEP was associated with education level and makeup use during pregnancy; ORs were 0.548 and 1.968, respectively. MBP was associated with education level, the use of makeup, hair permanents, dyes, and dryers; ORs were 0.559, 1.876, and 2.812, respectively. MBZP was associated with level of education; OR was 0.482. Finally, MEHP was associated with education level, drinking water type, and medication use during pregnancy; ORs were 0.560, 1.972, and 2.100, respectively. Conclusion: PAE exposure levels in pregnant women were associated with level of education, type of drinking water, and use of medication, permanent hair waves, hair dyes, hair dryers or makeup during pregnancy.