pdf: Prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with childhood behavior and executive functioning

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*/Prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with childhood behavior and

executive functioning./*

Engel SM, Miodovnik A, Canfield RL, Zhu C, Silva MJ, Calafat AM, Wolff MS.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New

York, New York, USA.

Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Apr;118(4):565-71. Epub 2010 Jan 8.

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchObjectAttachment.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2\

F10.1289%2Fehp.0901470 & representation=PDF

Background: Experimental and observational studies have reported

biological consequences of phthalate exposure relevant to

neurodevelopment.Objective: Our goal was to examine the association of

prenatal phthalate exposure with behavior and executive functioning at

4-9 years of age.Methods: The Mount Sinai Children's Environmental

Health Study enrolled a multiethnic prenatal population in New York City

between 1998 and 2002 (n = 404). Third-trimester maternal urines were

collected and analyzed for phthalate metabolites. Children (n = 188, n =

365 visits) were assessed for cognitive and behavioral development

between the ages of 4 and 9 years.Results: In multivariate adjusted

models, increased loge concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW)

phthalate metabolites were associated with poorer scores on the

aggression [beta = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15- 2.34],

conduct problems (beta = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.34-3.46), attention problems

(beta = 1.29; 95% CI, 0.16- 2.41), and depression (beta = 1.18; 95% CI,

0.11-2.24) clinical scales; and externalizing problems (beta = 1.75; 95%

CI, 0.61-2.88) and behavioral symptom index (beta = 1.55; 95% CI,

0.39-2.71) composite scales. Increased loge concentrations of LMW

phthalates were also associated with poorer scores on the global

executive composite index (beta = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.09-2.36) and the

emotional control scale (beta = 1.33; 95% CI, 0.18- 2.49).Conclusion:

Behavioral domains adversely associated with prenatal exposure to LMW

phthalates in our study are commonly found to be affected in children

clinically diagnosed with conduct or attention deficit hyperactivity

disorders. Editor's SummaryExperimental and observational studies have

reported biological consequences of phthalate exposure relevant to

neurodevelopment. Engel et al. (p. 565) examined the association of

prenatal phthalate exposure with offspring behavior in a multiethnic

prenatal population enrolled in the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental

Health Study in New York City between 1998 and 2002. Third-trimester

maternal urine samples were collected and analyzed for phthalate

metabolites, and the cognitive and behavioral development of the

children was assessed between the ages of 4 and 9 years. In multivariate

adjusted models, increased loge concentrations of low-molecular-weight

(LMW) phthalate metabolites were associated with poorer scores on the

Aggression, Conduct Problems, Attention Problems, and Depression, and

Externalizing Problems and Behavioral Symptom Index composite scales.

Increased loge concentrations of LMW phthalates were also associated

with poorer scores on the Global Executive Composite index and the

Emotional Control scale. The authors note that behavioral domains

adversely associated with prenatal exposure to LMW phthalates in this

study are commonly affected in children clinically diagnosed with

conduct or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.

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