Impact of Periconceptional Exposure to Phthalates on Pregnancy, Birth, and Neonatal Outcomes

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review was to evaluate recent available evidence on exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and the immediate periconceptional period and the health effects in the mother and offspring during the peripartum period. Articles were included if they included biospecimen-based exposure assessment and consideration of quantifiable health effects in either the mother or the offspring.Recent FindingsOutcome assessment variables were indicators of fetal growth and indicators of hormonal effects —including genital endpoints and pregnancy duration. The studies reviewed provided inconsistent and weak evidence of relationships between phthalate exposure during pregnancy and these outcomes. Some trends emerged involving high molecular weight phthalate metabolites and genital endpoints, includ ing anogenital distance and male genital anomalies, particularly with the metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Some evidence implicated high molecular weight phthalate metabolites and biomarkers of thyroid and immune function. Results surrounding fetal growth were mixed and varied by me tabolite, infant gender, time of exposure ascertainment, and parent exposed.SummaryDifficulties with exposure assessment likely limit the findings. All reviewed studies relied on between one and three exposure measurements, constraining reliability of results and knowledge regarding gestational windows of development. Additionally, the difficulty of applying s...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research