Abstract
BackgroundIn May 2011, a major incident involving phthalates-contaminated foodstuffs occurred in Taiwan. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was added to foodstuffs, mainly juice, jelly, tea, sports drink, and dietary supplements. Concerns arose that normal pubertal development, especially reproductive hormone regulation in children, could be disrupted by DEHP exposure.ObjectiveTo investigate the association between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormone levels among children following potential exposure to phthalate-tainted foodstuffs.MethodsA total of 239 children aged <12 years old were recruited from 3 hospitals in north, central, and south Taiwan after the episode. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the frequency and quantity of exposures to 5 categories of phthalate-contaminated foodstuffs to assess phthalate exposure in children. Urine samples were collected for the measurement of phthalate metabolites. The estimated daily intake of DEHP exposure at the time of the contamination incident occurred was calculated using both questionnaire data and urinary DEHP metabolite concentrations. Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess associations between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormone levels in children.ResultsAfter excluding children with missing data regarding exposure levels and hormone concentrations and girls with menstruation, 222 children were included in the statistical analyses. After adjustment for age and birth weight, girls with above median levels of urinary mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, and sum of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate concentrations had higher odds of above median follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. Girls with above median estimated average daily DEHP exposures following the contamination episode also had higher odds of sex hormone-binding globulin above median levels.ConclusionsPhthalate exposure was associated with alterations of reproductive hormone levels in girls.
Highlights
Phthalate esters are widely used in chemical synthesis and are added during the manufacture of many items used in daily life [1, 2], including food packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, construction materials, and medical products
Phthalate exposure was associated with alterations of reproductive hormone levels in girls
We investigated the association between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormone levels in children who participated in the Risk Assessment of Phthalate Incident in Taiwan (RAPIT) study
Summary
Phthalate esters are widely used in chemical synthesis and are added during the manufacture of many items used in daily life [1, 2], including food packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, construction materials, and medical products. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus induce the secretion of GnRH that subsequently stimulates the anterior pituitary to synthesize and release luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) to the gonads. The gonads, testes in the male and ovaries in the female, synthesize and release sex hormones (which are steroids) into the somatic circulation, mainly producing testosterone (TT) in males and estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PG) in females. The HPG axis is controlled under negative feedback mechanisms by systemic sex hormone concentrations that inhibit GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus and by pituitary responsiveness to GnRH. Environmental phthalate diesters are endocrine disruptors that may interfere with the normal function of the HPG axis, resulting in distorted levels of reproductive hormones [3, 4] and potentially producing reproductive and developmental toxicity [5,6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
