title: Prenatal and postnatal exposure to phthalate esters and asthma: a 9-year follow-up study of a taiwanese birth cohort.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that phthalate exposure in childhood is associated with the development of respiratory problems. However, few studies have assessed the relative impact of prenatal and postnatal exposure to phthalates on the development of asthma later in childhood. Therefore, we assessed the impact of prenatal and postnatal phthalate exposure on the development of asthma and wheezing using a Taiwanese birth cohort. A total of 430 pregnant women were recruited, and 171 (39.8%) of them had their children followed when they were aged 2, 5, and 8 years. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to assess asthma and wheezing symptoms and serum total immunoglobulin E levels were measured at 8 years of age. Urine samples were obtained from 136 women during their third trimester of pregnancy, 99 children at 2 years of age, and 110 children at 5 years. Four common phthalate monoester metabolites in maternal and children's urine were measured using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Maternal urinary mono-benzyl phthalate [MBzP] concentrations were associated with an increased occurrence of wheezing in boys at 8 years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 4.95 (95% CI 1.08-22.63)), for upper quintile compared to the others) after controlling for parental allergies and family members' smoking status. Urinary mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate [MEHP] levels over the quintile at 2-year-old were associated with increased asthma occurrence (adjusted OR = 6.14 (1.17-32.13)) in boys. Similarly, the sum of di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate [DEHP] metabolites at 5 years was associated with asthma in boys (adjusted OR = 4.36 (1.01-18.86)). Urinary MEHP in maternal and 5-year-old children urine were significantly associated with increased IgE in allergic children at 8 years. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to phthalate was associated with the occurrence of asthma in children, particularly for boys.
authors: Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Environmental Health & Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiu Ying
authors: HY
authors: Ku
authors: Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Pen Hua
authors: PH
authors: Su
authors: Division of Environmental Health & Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
authors: Hui Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Wen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Hai Lun
authors: HL
authors: Sun
authors: Division of Environmental Health & Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
authors: Chien Jen
authors: CJ
authors: Wang
authors: Division of Environmental Health & Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiao Yen
authors: HY
authors: Chen
authors: Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Jouni J K
authors: JJ
authors: Jaakkola
authors: Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Environmental Health & Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shu-Li
authors: SL
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D055442:Metabolome; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C032279:phthalic acid