title: Association between pregnancy loss and urinary phthalate levels around the time of conception.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal studies indicate that some phthalate metabolites may harm female reproductive function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the associations between exposure to phthalate metabolites and pregnancy loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a previously established cohort of couples planning their first pregnancy, we analyzed four primary and two oxidized secondary phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected on day 10 after the first day of the last menstrual period before conception occurred (n = 128) and during the previous cycle (if any, n = 111). Subclinical embryonal loss was identified by repeated measurement of urinary human chorionic gonadotropin, and information on clinical spontaneous abortions was obtained by telephone interview with the mother.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnancy loss (n = 48) was increased among women with urinary concentration of monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) in the upper tertile in the conception sample compared with women in the lowest tertile [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 7.6]. The corresponding OR for subclinical embryonal loss (n = 32) was 40.7 (95% CI: 4.5, 369.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phthalate metabolite MEHP was associated with higher occurrence of pregnancy loss. Because this is the first human study to show this association and the sample size is small, the findings need to be corroborated in independent studies.
authors: Danish Ramazzini Center, Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. guntof@rm.dk
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Toft
authors: Bo A G
authors: BA
authors: Jönsson
authors: Christian H
authors: CH
authors: Lindh
authors: Tina Kold
authors: TK
authors: Jensen
authors: Niels H
authors: NH
authors: Hjollund
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Vested
authors: Jens Peter
authors: JP
authors: Bonde
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010795:Phthalic Acids