In Utero Exposure to Di-(2-ethyhexyl)-Phthalate and
Human Pregnancy Duration

Environmental Health Perspectives 18aug03

LATINI GIUSEPPE^1,2, DE FELICE CLAUDIO³, PRESTA GIUSEPPE¹, DEL VECCHIO ANTONIO¹, PARIS IRMA⁴, RUGGIERI FABRIZIO⁴, MAZZEO PIETRO⁴

From ¹Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Paediatrics, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, ²Clinical Physiology Institute (IFC-CNR) National Research Council of Italy, Lecce Section, ³Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, 53100 Siena; ⁴Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio 67010 Coppito (L’Aquila), Italy

Corresponding Author: G. Latini MD, Division of Paediatrics, Perrino Hospital, Piazza Di Summa 72100 Brindisi, Clinical Physiology Institute (IFC-CNR) National Research Council of Italy, Lecce Section, Italy. Phone :+39-0831-537471;Fax:+39-0831-537861;email: gilatini@tin.it

ABSTRACT

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), the most commonly used plasticiser in flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC) formulations, is a widespread ubiquitous environmental contaminant. To date, no information exists on the potential health hazards for exposure to DEHP and/or its main metabolite, mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) in high-risk conditions, such pregnancy and neonatal period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prenatal exposure to DEHP and/or MEHP and its possible biological effects. Serum DEHP and MEHP concentrations were measured in the cord blood of 84 consecutive newborns by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Relationships between DEHP/MEHP and infant characteristics were tested using Fisher’s exact test, unpaired t-tests and univariate linear regression analyses and significant differences on univariate analysis were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Detectable cord blood DEHP and/or MEHP were found in 88.1% of the samples. Either DEHP or MEHP were present in 65/84 (77.4%) of the examined samples. Mean concentrations of DEHP and MEHP were 1.19±1.15 µg/ml (95% CI for the mean:0.93-1.44) (values range: 0-4.71) and 0.52±0.61 µg/ml (95% CI for the mean:0.39-0.66) (values range: 0-2.94), respectively. MEHP-positive newborns showed a significantly lower gestational age compared to the MEHP-negative infants (P=0.033). Logistic regression analysis results indicated a positive correlation between absence MEHP in cord blood and gestational age at delivery (OR=1.50;95% CI=1.013-2.21,P=0.043). These findings confirm that human exposure to DEHP can begin in utero and suggest that phthalate exposure is significantly associated with a shorter pregnancy duration.

source: (abstract) http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2003/6202/abstract.pdf
            (full version requires subscription) http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/members/2003/6202/6202.pdf 5oct03