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Cited by 95Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactPesticide Exposure and Toxicity

Phthalates and thyroid function in preschool age children: sex specific associations

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Morgenstern, Rachelle, Whyatt, Robin M., Insel, Beverly J., Calafat, Antonia M., Liu, Xinhua, Rauh, Virginia A., Herbstman, Julie, Bradwin, Gary +1 more·2017·Environment International
DOI 10.1016/j.envint.2017.05.007PMC PMC5533628
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Abstract

Background Research relating either prenatal or concurrent measures of phthalate exposure to thyroid function in preschool children is inconclusive. Methods In a study of inner-city mothers and their children, metabolites of di-n-butyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-isobutyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and diethyl phthalate were measured in a spot urine sample collected from women in late pregnancy and from their children at age 3years. We measured children's serum free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) at age 3. Linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between phthalate metabolites, measured in maternal urine during late pregnancy and measured in child urine at age 3 and thyroid function measured at age 3. Results Mean concentrations (ranges) were 1.42ng/dL (1.02-2.24) for FT4, and 2.62uIU/mL (0.61-11.67) for TSH. In the children at age 3, among girls, FT4 decreased with increasing log e mono-n-butyl phthalate [estimated b=-0.06; 95% CI: (-0.09, -0.02)], log e mono-isobutyl phthalate [b=-0.05; 95% CI: (-0.09, -0.01)], log e monoethyl phthalate [b=-0.04; 95% CI: (-0.07, -0.01)], and log e mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate [b=-0.04; 95% CI: (-0.07, -0.003)] and log e mono(2-ethyl-5-oxy-hexyl) phthalate [b=-0.04; 95% CI: (-0.07, -0.004)]. In contrast, among boys, we observed no associations between FT4 and child phthalate metabolites at age 3. On the other hand, in late gestation, FT4 increased with increasing log e mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [estimated b=0.04; 95% CI: (0.02, 0.06)] and no sex difference was observed. We found no associations between phthalate biomarkers measured in either the child or prenatal samples and TSH at age 3. Conclusions The data show inverse and sex specific associations between specific phthalate metabolites measured in children at age 3 and thyroid function in preschool children. These results may provide evidence for the hypothesis that reductions in thyroid hormones mediate associations between early life phthalate exposure and child cognitive outcomes.

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Authors
Morgenstern, R., Whyatt, R. M., Insel, B. J., Calafat, A. M., Liu, X., Rauh, V. A., Herbstman, J., Bradwin, G., & Factor-Litvak, P.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
  • Boston Children's Hospital (US)
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Factor-Litvak, Pam
ORCID
Venue
Environment International
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
106
Pages
11-18
ISSN
0160-4120 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.envint.2017.05.007
PMC
PMC5533628
OpenAlex
W2619263324
Cited by
95
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 2
FWCI
5.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Environment International (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R01ES013543, R01ES014393, R01ES08977)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (P50 ES09600/RD 83214101)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
Keywords
phthalates, thyroid function, free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, prenatal exposure, urinary phthalate metabolites, sex differences, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-isobutyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate, MEHHP, dibutyl phthalate, DEHP, diethyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, preschool children, endocrine disruptors
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Preschool, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Humans, Male, Mothers, Phthalic Acids, Pregnancy, Sex Factors, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Linear Models, Young Adult

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