Medications as a potential source of exposure to phthalates among women of childbearing age

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between the use of medications potentially containing phthalates and urinary concentrations of specific phthalate metabolites around conception. MethodsWomen enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health project from 2006 to 2009 completed questionnaires about the use of medications and provided multiple urine samples before and after conception. We compared the mean urinary concentration of phthalate metabolites between users of phthalate containing medications and a matched unexposed control group. ResultsOne woman used Asacol® (mesalamine), which utilizes dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as a delayed release coating material, and had a mean urinary concentration of the main DBP metabolite 200 times higher than the controls (8176μg/L vs. 37.5μg/L). The three users of stool softeners had a higher concentration of the main diethyl phthalate (DEP) metabolite (8636μg/L vs. 714.2μg/L). Neither the three additional Prilosec® (omeprazole) users nor one cyclobenzaprine user had higher urinary concentration than controls. ConclusionSelected medications may be important sources of DBP and DEP exposures around conception.