title: Socioeconomic factors and phthalate metabolite concentrations among United States women of reproductive age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relatively little is known about the socioeconomic correlates of phthalate metabolite urine concentrations among the general population, exposures of increasing public health concern, particularly for women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We pooled data from the 2001-2008 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations (including the molar sum of four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, the molar sum of two dibutyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites, and metabolites of benzylbutyl phthalate (BzBP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP)) with socioeconomic indicators (including ethnicity, education, income, and food security status) among women 20 to 39 years age. We also derived a socioeconomic status summary measure using factor analysis and investigated its associations with metabolite concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In fully adjusted models, the lowest quartile of overall socioeconomic status was associated with 1.83 (95% CI=1.54-2.17) times the concentrations of mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and 0.72 (95% CI=0.54-0.98) times the concentrations of (molar sum) DEHP metabolites compared with the highest quartile of overall socioeconomic status. This latter association was driven primarily by educational attainment. All Non-White ethnicities combined had 1.24 (95% CI=1.09-1.40) times the concentrations of (molar sum) DBP metabolites, 1.32 (95% CI=1.12-1.56) times the mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) concentrations, and 0.82 (95% CI=0.71-0.96) the concentrations of MBzP of Non-Hispanic Whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biomarkers of phthalate exposure vary with socioeconomic factors in women of reproductive age in the United States. Given the public health concern surrounding phthalate exposure, more research is needed to elucidate the reasons for these differences.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Roni_Kobrosly@URMC.Rochester.edu
authors.forename: Roni W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kobrosly
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Parlett
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stahlhut
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Shanna H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Swan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010795:Phthalic Acids