title: Phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A in urines from German school-aged children: results of the Duisburg birth cohort and Bochum cohort studies.
abstract: Some phthalates and also bisphenol A (BPA) interfere with the human endocrine system and are labelled as reproductive toxicants. Children's exposure to these contaminants is suspected to be associated with developmental disorders and other health impairments. We provide biomonitoring data on 21 urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA levels in first morning urine of 8-10 year old children. Participants were children born between 1999 and 2002 of the Duisburg birth cohort (8-9 years, N=113) and of the Bochum cohort study (8-10 years, N=352). Additionally, for the Duisburg birth cohort we compare current data of children from Duisburg (8-9 years) with data from 2 years earlier when the children were 6-7 years old. We analyzed influences of important covariates on exposure levels by multiple regression analysis and those from two sampling time points by generalized equation estimation models adjusted for important covariates. Compared to recently published studies the phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations were within the range of background levels. There were no significant differences between children from Bochum and Duisburg. Comparison between the two Duisburg birth cohort data sets (2007-2008 and 2009-2010) showed significant correlations for most of the phthalate metabolites (r Spearman between 0.25 and 0.51; p ≤ 0.05) but not for BPA (r Spearman=0.162; p=0.143). Most of the phthalate metabolites in the groups of the 6-7 and 8-9 years old Duisburg children were negatively associated with higher age, except for BPA concentrations with nearly constant levels. Exposure levels may be influenced by changes in child specific exposure patterns with age but also by the rapidly changing phthalate market.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Electronic address: kasper-sonnenberg@hygiene.rub.de.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasper-Sonnenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittsiepe
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C032279:phthalic acid; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A; Bochum cohort; Children; Duisburg birth cohort; Phthalates; Urine