The goals of this study are 2-fold: 1) to characterize prenatal phthalate exposures among urban minority mothers and newborns using environmental and biologic monitoring; and 2) to examine effects of exposure on placental function, gestational age and fetal growth. The research is timely. Phthalates are widely used in consumer products and exposures are ubiquitous. 75% of the U.S. population is exposed; women receive higher exposures than men. This has implication for pregnancy as a number of phthalates are endocrine disrupters and have been shown experimentally to modulate steroidogenesis in the placenta, downregulate estradiol and testosterone levels and adversely affect fetal growth. Our pilot data in human populations also indicate that prenatal exposures are reducing gestational age. The proposed study is the first to characterize phthalate exposures specific to urban minorities and to assess endocrine disruption in the placenta and its implication for gestational age and fetal growth. The research is cost-effective in that it will be nested within a well-designed prospective cohort study being conducted by the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health. Costs of enrollment, collection and storage of environmental and biologic samples, questionnaires and medical record data are covered under the existing funding. Prenatal phthalate exposures will be characterized in 300 mother/newborn pairs using questionnaires, personal and indoor air monitoring and the measurement of phthalates in biologic samples collected from the mothers and newborns. Repeat measures in a subset will enable evaluation of temporal variability in exposure levels. The study will assess associations between prenatal phthalates, expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis, oxidative stress, and xenobiotic metabolism in the placenta, gestational age and infant birth weight, length and head circumference. The research brings together a collaborative team from Columbia and Harvard Universities, the Centers for Disease Control and Southwest Research Institute with expertise in molecular epidemiology, exposure assessment and health effects of phthalates.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES013543-04
Application #
7474714
Study Section
Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Study Section (ECD)
Program Officer
Gray, Kimberly A
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2010-06-14
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2010-06-14
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$465,152
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Morgenstern, Rachelle; Whyatt, Robin M; Insel, Beverly J et al. (2017) Phthalates and thyroid function in preschool age children: Sex specific associations. Environ Int 106:11-18
Ipapo, Khristina N; Factor-Litvak, Pam; Whyatt, Robin M et al. (2017) Maternal prenatal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and visual recognition memory among infants at 27 weeks. Environ Res 155:7-14
Buckley, Jessie P; Engel, Stephanie M; Braun, Joseph M et al. (2016) Prenatal Phthalate Exposures and Body Mass Index Among 4- to 7-Year-old Children: A Pooled Analysis. Epidemiology 27:449-58
Factor-Litvak, Pam; Insel, Beverly; Calafat, Antonia M et al. (2014) Persistent Associations between Maternal Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates on Child IQ at Age 7 Years. PLoS One 9:e114003
Whyatt, Robin M; Liu, Xinhua; Rauh, Virginia A et al. (2012) Maternal prenatal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and child mental, psychomotor, and behavioral development at 3 years of age. Environ Health Perspect 120:290-5
Van Vliet, E D S; Reitano, E M; Chhabra, J S et al. (2011) A review of alternatives to di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-containing medical devices in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 31:551-60
Reyes, Marilyn; Perzanowski, Matthew S; Whyatt, Robin M et al. (2011) Relationship between maternal demoralization, wheeze, and immunoglobulin E among inner-city children. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 107:42-49.e1
Just, Allan C; Adibi, Jennifer J; Rundle, Andrew G et al. (2010) Urinary and air phthalate concentrations and self-reported use of personal care products among minority pregnant women in New York city. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 20:625-33
Adibi, Jennifer J; Whyatt, Robin M; Hauser, Russ et al. (2010) Transcriptional biomarkers of steroidogenesis and trophoblast differentiation in the placenta in relation to prenatal phthalate exposure. Environ Health Perspect 118:291-6
Whyatt, Robin M; Adibi, Jennifer J; Calafat, Antonia M et al. (2009) Prenatal di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate exposure and length of gestation among an inner-city cohort. Pediatrics 124:e1213-20

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