title: Urinary concentrations of phthalates and phenols in a population of Spanish pregnant women and children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phthalate and phenol exposure is prevalent among the general population and of potential concern for pregnant women and children because of their suspected susceptibility to endocrine effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the extent of exposure to several phthalates and phenols in a sample of Spanish pregnant women - according to their individual characteristics (age, social class, education, and body mass index) - and children who participated in the INMA - Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Environment and Childhood) project.
  
  
  METHODS
  One spot urine sample was taken during the third trimester of pregnancy from 120 pregnant women and from 30 4-year old children belonging to 5 Spanish birth cohorts, and analyzed for 11 phthalate metabolites and 9 phenols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate, mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate, and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate; two metabolites of dibutyl phthalates, mono-isobutyl phthalate and mono-n-butyl phthalate; monoethyl phthalate (MEP), the main metabolite of diethyl phthalate; and two phenols, methyl paraben (M-PB) and 2,5-dichlorophenol were detected in the urine samples of all women. The highest urinary concentrations were for MEP and M-PB. Urinary concentrations of all phthalate metabolites and of 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,5-dichlorophenol, and bisphenol A were lower in the pregnant women than in the children. Among women, a positive relationship with social class and education was shown for most of the phthalate metabolites and phenols. Almost all phthalate metabolites varied by region even after adjusting for social class and education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phthalate and phenol exposures are prevalent in a group of pregnant women and young children, two susceptible populations, and these exposures might be positively related to social class.
authors: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. lcasas@creal.cat
authors: Lidia
authors: L
authors: Casas
authors: Mariana F
authors: MF
authors: Fernández
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Llop
authors: Mònica
authors: M
authors: Guxens
authors: Ferran
authors: F
authors: Ballester
authors: Nicolás
authors: N
authors: Olea
authors: Mikel Basterrechea
authors: MB
authors: Irurzun
authors: Loreto Santa Marina
authors: LS
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Isolina
authors: I
authors: Riaño
authors: Adonina
authors: A
authors: Tardón
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Vrijheid
authors: Antonia M
authors: AM
authors: Calafat
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Sunyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000652:urine; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000652:urine; D037841:Pregnant People; D013030:Spain; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D002733:Chlorophenols; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C056892:2,5-dichlorophenol; C051450:2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds; C004762:2,4-dichlorophenol; C007379:diethyl phthalate; C028577:monobutyl phthalate