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Cited by 585Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactPesticide Exposure and Toxicity

Temporal Trends in Phthalate Exposures: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010

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Zota, Ami R., Calafat, Antonia M., Woodruff, Tracey J.·2014·Environmental Health Perspectives
DOI 10.1289/ehp.1306681PMC PMC3948032
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Abstract

Background: Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Because of potential adverse effects on human health, butylbenzyl phthalate [BBzP; metabolite, monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP)], di-n-butyl phthalate [DnBP; metabolite, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP)], and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are being replaced by substitutes including other phthalates; however, little is known about consequent trends in population-level exposures. Objective: We examined temporal trends in urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in the general U.S. population and whether trends vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: We combined data on 11 phthalate metabolites for 11,071 participants from five cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2010). Percent changes and least square geometric means (LSGMs) were calculated from multivariate regression models. Results: LSGM concentrations of monoethyl phthalate, MnBP, MBzP, and ΣDEHP metabolites decreased between 2001–2002 and 2009–2010 [percent change (95% CI): –42% (–49, –34); –17% (–23, –9); –32% (–39, –23) and –37% (–46, –26), respectively]. In contrast, LSGM concentrations of monoisobutyl phthalate, mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP), monocarboxyoctyl phthalate, and monocarboxynonyl phthalate (MCNP) increased over the study period [percent change (95% CI): 206% (178, 236); 25% (8, 45); 149% (102, 207); and 15% (1, 30), respectively]. Trends varied by subpopulations for certain phthalates. For example, LSGM concentrations of ΣDEHP metabolites, MCPP, and MCNP were higher in children than adults, but the gap between groups narrowed over time (pinteraction < 0.01). Conclusions: Exposure of the U.S. population to phthalates has changed in the last decade. Data gaps make it difficult to explain trends, but legislative activity and advocacy campaigns by nongovernmental organizations may play a role in changing trends. Citation: Zota AZ, Calafat AM, Woodruff TJ. 2014. Temporal trends in phthalate exposures: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010. Environ Health Perspect 122:235–241; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306681

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  • A 67% decline in DEHP exposure in the US population between 2005/6 and 2011/12 has been reported.

    “A 67% decline in DEHP exposure in the US population between 2005/6 and 2011/12 has been reported [141].”

    From A Review of Biomonitoring of Phthalate Exposures (2019) · cites this paper as [141]

    The Results report a decline in DEHP metabolites in the U.S. population, from 45.4 ng/mL in 2005–2006 to 24.8 ng/mL in 2009–2010 (about 45%). The paper’s data end in 2009–2010, so they do not support the claimed 67% decline through 2011–2012. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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Authors
Zota, A. R., Calafat, A. M., & Woodruff, T. J.
Affiliations
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
Corresponding author
Zota, Ami R.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Health Perspectives
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published
2014-01-15
Volume
122
Issue
3
Pages
235-241
ISSN
  • 0091-6765 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-9924
DOI
10.1289/ehp.1306681
PMC
PMC3948032
OpenAlex
W1965283764
Cited by
585
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 23
FWCI
33.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Health Perspectives (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • University of California, San Francisco
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R00ES019881, K99ES019881)
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
phthalate exposure, temporal trends, urinary phthalate metabolites, DEHP, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, phthalate substitutes, children versus adults, sociodemographic differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Child, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Phthalic Acids, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors, United States, Young Adult

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