Household cleanliness and urinary phthalate concentrations among toddlers in the HOME Study

Abstract

PDS 62: Chemicals and metals: exposure and biomarkers, Johan Friso Foyer, Floor 1, August 28, 2019, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Background/Aim: Household dust can contain butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which may adversely impact childhood health. Cleaning may lower dust phthalate concentrations, but the relationship between household cleanliness and urinary phthalates among toddlers is unknown. We evaluated the association between household cleanliness and concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), a metabolite of butylbenzyl phthalate, and the sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (∑DEHP) among toddlers in the HOME Study. Methods: We measured phthalate metabolites in serial urine samples collected from 312 Cincinnati, Ohio area toddlers at ages 1, 2, and 3 years (n=714 samples collected from 2004 to 2009). During home visits, we assessed household cleanliness and classified homes into three groups based on dust buildup, presence of debris, and evidence of cleaning. We used linear mixed models to evaluate associations between repeated measures of household cleanliness and log-transformed phthalate metabolite concentrations adjusting for creatinine and covariates. Results: Overall, toddlers living in homes with less evidence of cleaning and heavier dust and debris buildup had higher urinary concentrations of MBzP and ∑DEHP. Compared to urine samples collected from toddlers living in clean homes (n=412), those collected from toddlers living in homes with only some (n=285) or no evidence of housecleaning (n=37) had 14% (95% CI= -3%, 35%) and 58% (95%CI= 9%, 130%) higher MBzP concentrations, respectively, as well as 10% (95% CI= -4%, 26%) and 39% (95%CI= 2%, 90%) higher ∑DEHP concentrations. We found statistically significant trends in the relationship of household cleanliness with urinary MBzP (p= 0.016) and ∑DEHP (p= 0.042) concentrations. Conclusions: Household cleaning may lower toddlers’ phthalate body burden. Future intervention studies will be useful to test the efficacy of cleaning methods.