Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Phthalates and the Relation to Steroid Hormone and Gender Role Behavior in Children

Abstract

PP-31-092 Background/Aims: Phthalates exposure was found associated with decreased anogenital index in male newborns and reduced masculine play boys. It is hypothesized that sex hormone might be altered and gender role behavior changed in relation to phthalates exposure. Methods: We investigate the relation of steroid hormones and pre-school activities inventory to phthalate metabolites in pregnant women and their children in a perspective cohort during 2001–2009 in central Taiwan. In all, 11 phthalate metabolites representing the exposure to 5 commonly used phthalates (Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate [DEHP], DiBP, DnBP, BP, and DiNP) were measured in urine, serum, and human milk by fully automated LC-LC/MS-MS-system. Steroid hormones were analyzed in maternal and children serum using radioimmunoassay. Results: DEHP metabolite levels in pregnant women urine were significantly correlated with their corresponding cord blood. Phthalate exposure was associated with decreased testosterone (TT) concentrations at the years of 0 (ie, cord cx-MiNP and cord TT: spearman correlation r = −0.49, P < 0.05, respectively). Postnatal exposure to DEHP was associated with decreased TT and pre-school activities inventory scores in girls at the age of 5 years, indicating stereotyped feminine toys and activities, with adjustment for gender, education of the major caretaker, and elder brother or sisters. Conclusion: It is firstly reported that TT levels decreased with increasing phthalates exposure consistently in the young children at the ages of 0, 2, and 5 years. Transplacental exposure of phthalates and effect of steroid hormones are established. The feminine role might associate partly with the decreased TT. Postnatal exposure to phthalates is also important for the changes in hormone and behavior.