Journal Article

Longitudinal Associations of Phthalate Exposures During Childhood and Body Size Measurements in Young Girls

Silva, Manori J., Wolff, Mary S., Windham, Gayle C., Kushi, Lawrence H., Teitelbaum, Susan L., Galvez, Maida P., Biro, Frank M., Pajak, Ashley, Deierlein, Andrea L., Pinney, Susan M., Calafat, Antonia M.

2016

Overview

BACKGROUND:Phthalates are environmental chemicals that may play a role in the development of obesity. Few studies have investigated longitudinal associations between postnatal phthalate exposures and subsequent anthropometric measurements in children. METHODS:We collected data as part of The Breast Cancer and Environment Research Program at three US sites. A total of 1,239 girls, aged 6–8 years, were enrolled in 2004–2007. We categorized baseline phthalate exposures, assessed from creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of low-molecular weight phthalate metabolites, as low, <78; medium, 78 to <194; and high, ≥194 μg/g creatinine and of high-molecular weight phthalates as low, <111; medium, 111–278; and high, ≥278 μg/g creatinine. Anthropometric measurements were collected through 2012 (n = 1,017). Linear mixed effects regression estimated how baseline low and high-molecular weight phthalate concentrations related to changes in girls’ body mass index (BMI), height, and waist circumference at ages 7–13 years. RESULTS:Low-molecular weight phthalates were positively associated with gains in BMI and waist circumference. Predicted differences in BMI and waist circumference between girls with high versus low concentrations of low-molecular weight phthalates increased from 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI]−0.02, 1.1) to 1.2 kg/m (95% CI0.28, 2.1) and from 1.5 (95% CI−0.38, 3.3) to 3.9 cm (95% CI1.3, 6.5), respectively. High-molecular weight phthalates were negatively associated with height but only among girls who were normal weight at baseline (BMI ≤ 85th percentile). CONCLUSION:Phthalates, specifically low-molecular weight phthalates, have small but detectable associations with girls’ anthropometric outcomes. Low-molecular weight phthalates showed stronger associations than other types of phthalates.

• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc,Copyright Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved
• Subject: Adolescent / Body Height / Body Mass Index / Body Weight / Child / Environmental Epidemiology / Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data / Female / Humans / Linear Models / Longitudinal Studies / Obesity - epidemiology / Phthalic Acids - urine / United States - epidemiology / Waist Circumference