title: Maternal prenatal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and child mental, psychomotor, and behavioral development at 3 years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research suggests that prenatal phthalate exposures affect child executive function and behavior.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations in maternal prenatal urine and mental, motor, and behavioral development in children at 3 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), and four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites were measured in a spot urine sample collected from 319 women during the third trimester. When children were 3 years of age, the Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) were measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II, and behavior problems were assessed by maternal report on the Child Behavior Checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Child PDI scores decreased with increasing loge MnBP [estimated adjusted β-coefficient = -2.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.63, -1.0] and loge MiBP (β = -2.28; 95% CI: -3.90, -0.67); odds of motor delay increased significantly [per loge MnBP: estimated adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.44; per loge MiBP: adjusted OR =1.82; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.66]. In girls, MDI scores decreased with increasing loge MnBP (β = -2.67; 95% CI: -4.70, -0.65); the child sex difference in odds of mental delay was significant (p = 0.037). The ORs for clinically withdrawn behavior were 2.23 (95% CI: 1.27, 3.92) and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.31) per loge unit increase in MnBP and MBzP, respectively; for clinically internalizing behaviors, the OR was 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.90) per loge unit increase in MBzP. Significant child sex differences were seen in associations between MnBP and MBzP and behaviors in internalizing domains (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain prenatal phthalate exposures may decrease child mental and motor development and increase internalizing behaviors.
authors: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032 USA. rmw5@columbia.edu
authors: Robin M
authors: RM
authors: Whyatt
authors: Xinhua
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Virginia A
authors: VA
authors: Rauh
authors: Antonia M
authors: AM
authors: Calafat
authors: Allan C
authors: AC
authors: Just
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Hoepner
authors: Diurka
authors: D
authors: Diaz
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Quinn
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Adibi
authors: Frederica P
authors: FP
authors: Perera
authors: Pam
authors: P
authors: Factor-Litvak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010795:Phthalic Acids