Prenatal exposure to butylbenzyl phthalate and early eczema in an urban cohort.
BACKGROUND
Recent cross-sectional studies suggest a link between butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) in house dust and childhood eczema.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate whether concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), the main BBzP metabolite in urine, during pregnancy are associated prospectively with eczema in young children, and whether this association varies by the child's sensitization to indoor allergens or serological evidence of any allergies.


METHODS
MBzP was measured in spot urine samples during the third trimester of pregnancy from 407 African-American and Dominican women residing in New York City in 1999-2006. Repeated questionnaires asked mothers whether their doctor ever said their child had eczema. Child blood samples at 24, 36, and 60 months of age were analyzed for total, anti-cockroach, dust mite, and mouse IgE. Relative risks (RR) were estimated with multivariable modified Poisson regression. Analyses included a multinomial logistic regression model for early- and late-onset eczema versus no eczema through 60 months of age.


RESULTS
MBzP was detected in > 99% of samples (geometric mean = 13.6; interquartile range: 5.7-31.1 ng/mL). By 24 months, 30% of children developed eczema, with the proportion higher among African Americans (48%) than among Dominicans (21%) (p < 0.001). An interquartile range increase in log MBzP concentration was associated positively with early-onset eczema (RR = 1.52 for eczema by 24 months; 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 1.91, p = 0.0003, n = 113 reporting eczema/376 total sample), adjusting for urine specific gravity, sex, and race/ethnicity. MBzP was not associated with allergic sensitization, nor did seroatopy modify consistently the MBzP and eczema association.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal exposure to BBzP may influence the risk of developing eczema in early childhood.
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. acj2109@columbia.edu
Allan C
AC
Just
Robin M
RM
Whyatt
Matthew S
MS
Perzanowski
Antonia M
AM
Calafat
Frederica P
FP
Perera
Inge F
IF
Goldstein
Qixuan
Q
Chen
Andrew G
AG
Rundle
Rachel L
RL
Miller
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000485:Allergens / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000208:ethnology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C027561:butylbenzyl phthalate