Measuring semi-volatile organic compound exposures during pregnancy using silicone wristbands

This study aimed to look for patterns in chemical exposure utilizing participant demographics gathered from a questionnaire, and chemical exposure data across multiple timepoints during pregnancy. Analysis centered on 27 compounds detected in at least 80% of the wristbands examined. The chemicals detected most frequently included two pesticides, eight phthalates, one phthalate alternative, seven BFRs, and nine OPEs including isopropylated and tert-butylated triarylphosphate esters (ITPs and TBPPs). Co-exposure to different SVOCs was most prominent in compounds that were within the same chemical class or were used in similar consumer applications such as phthalates and OPEs, which are often used as plasticizers. Pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with multiple compounds, and there were both positive and negative associations between women's parity and SVOC exposure. Outdoor temperature was not correlated with the wristband concentrations over a five-day sampling period. Lastly, significant and moderately high Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) (0.66-0.84) values for phthalate measurements from two trimesters of pregnancy indicate chronic exposure and suggests that using wristbands during one sampling period may reliably predict exposure. However, multiple sampling periods may be necessary to accurately determine indoor exposure to other SVOCs including OPEs and BFRs.PMID:37567263 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139778
Source: Chemosphere - Category: Chemistry Authors: Source Type: research