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Cited by 261Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsAsthma and respiratory diseasesHealth, Environment, Cognitive Aging

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates and childhood respiratory tract infections and allergy

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Gascon, Mireia, Casas, Maribel, Morales, Eva, Valvi, Damaskini, Ballesteros-Gómez, Ana, Luque, Noelia, Rubio, Soledad, Monfort, Núria +4 more·2015·Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.09.030
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Abstract

Background There is growing concern that prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are widely used in consumer products, might affect susceptibility to infections and the development of allergy and asthma in children, but there are currently very few prospective studies. Objective We sought to evaluate whether prenatal exposure to BPA and phthalates increases the risk of respiratory and allergic outcomes in children at various ages from birth to 7 years. Methods We measured BPA and metabolites of high-molecular-weight phthalates, 4 di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites (Σ4DEHP) and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and 3 low-molecular-weight phthalate (LMWP) metabolites (Σ3LMWP) in urine samples collected during the first and third trimesters in pregnant women participating in the Infancia y Medio Ambiente-Sabadell birth cohort study. The occurrence of chest infections, bronchitis, wheeze, and eczema in children was assessed at ages 6 and 14 months and 4 and 7 years through questionnaires given to the mothers. Atopy (specific IgE measurement) and asthma (questionnaire) were assessed at ages 4 and 7 years, respectively. Results The relative risks (RRs) of wheeze (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.40; P = .02), chest infections (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.32; P = .05), and bronchitis (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.37; P = .04) at any age increased for each doubling in concentration of maternal urinary BPA. Σ4DEHP metabolites were associated with the same outcomes (wheeze: RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.50, P = .02; chest infections: RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.97-1.35; P = .11; bronchitis: RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.43; P = .04). MBzP was associated with higher risk of wheeze (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.33; P = .05). The risk of asthma at age 7 years was also increased with increasing prenatal BPA, Σ4DEHP, and MBzP exposure. There were no other exposure-outcome associations. Conclusions Prenatal exposure to BPA and high-molecular-weight phthalates might increase the risk of asthma symptoms and respiratory tract infections throughout childhood.

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  • Prenatal exposure to DEHP metabolites and BzBP has been associated with the risk of developing asthma at the age of 7 years and older.

    “Prenatal exposure to DEHP metabolites and BzBP has been associated with the risk of developing asthma at the age of 7 years and older [204].”

    From A Review of Biomonitoring of Phthalate Exposures (2019) · cites this paper as [204]

    The Phthalates and respiratory and allergy outcomes section reports increased asthma risk at age 7 with higher prenatal urinary DEHP-metabolite and MBzP concentrations. The paper measured MBzP rather than BzBP directly, and followed children only to age 7; it does not establish an association at older ages. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Gascon, M., Casas, M., Morales, E., Valvi, D., Ballesteros-Gómez, A., Luque, N., Rubio, S., Monfort, N., Ventura, R., Martínez, D., Sunyer, J., & Vrijheid, M.
Affiliations
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
  • University of Córdoba (ES)
  • Municipal Institute for Medical Research (ES)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-02
Volume
135
Issue
2
Pages
370-378.e7
ISSN
0091-6749 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jaci.2014.09.030
OpenAlex
W2014063079
Cited by
261
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 22
FWCI
12.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Generalitat de Catalunya (CIRIT 1999SGR 00241, 00349, 00241, FI-DGR2012, 1999SGR 0024 1)
  • Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (FI-DGR 2012)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS‐PI041436, FIS‐ PI081151, Red INMA G03/176, PI04/1436, CB06/02/0041, PI/08/1151, G03/176, INMA G03/176)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
Keywords
bisphenol A, phthalates, prenatal exposure, childhood wheezing, chest infection, bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, atopy, asthma, DEHP metabolites, monobenzyl phthalate, urinary biomarkers, maternal urinary biomarkers, pediatric allergy, environmental endocrine disruptors
MeSH terms
Bisphenol A Compounds, Benzhydryl Compounds, Child, Child, Preschool, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Phenols, Phthalic Acids, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Respiratory Tract Infections, Prevalence, Public Health Surveillance, Patient Outcome Assessment

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