{"title":"Phthalate exposure profiles during baby delivery and their association with reproductive hormone changes and newborn outcomes","authors":"Khelfi Abderrezak , Fesraoui Chakib , Fara Iyad , Aksas Kahina , Yargui Lyece , Makrelouf Mohamed , Cherifi Mohamed , Tayebi Youcef , Benghanem Lounas , Dammene-Debbih Amel , Madaci Fadila , Azzouz Mohamed","doi":"10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144208","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Phthalates are organic compounds and emerging pollutants of health concern. Exposure to phthalates may have an impact on hormone physiology, especially during pregnancy, as it represents a period of heightened vulnerability to disruptions for the newborn.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this study was to identify perinatal exposure profiles to phthalates in pregnant women living in Algiers and to explore associations between umbilical cord blood levels of phthalates and reproductive hormone concentrations. The aim also extends to explore the link that could exist between potential sources and the exposure profiles to phthalates.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This descriptive study was carried out on 154 couples of women-newborns. After gathering necessary information, umbilical cord blood samples were collected. Reproductive hormones were measured by electrochemiluminescence, while phthalate metabolites were detected using LC-MS/MS.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that MEHP, MEP, and MnBP were detected in 97.4%, 74.7%, and 53.9% of samples. Mean concentrations were 18.680, 11.805, and 7.151 ng/mL for MEHP, MEP, and MnBP, respectively. High concentrations of MEP and MEHP were associated with low umbilical cord levels of testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol. A positive and meaningful association between MnBP and LH levels was found as well. The results indicated that MEHP was associated with changes in the anogenital distance (AGD) in both male and female newborns, as positive significant correlation has been found between MEHP levels and female AGD as well as an inverse correlation between the same metabolite and male AGD. The evaluation of exposure sources revealed a significant association between the consumption of bottled water and levels of MnBP.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In this study, phthalates were associated with altered levels of reproductive hormones in umbilical cord plasma. These changes may have adverse effects on children development. Results also suggest that the consumption of bottled water may impact the newborns’ endocrine integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":276,"journal":{"name":"Chemosphere","volume":"374 ","pages":"Article 144208"},"PeriodicalIF":8.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chemosphere","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565352500150X","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Phthalates are organic compounds and emerging pollutants of health concern. Exposure to phthalates may have an impact on hormone physiology, especially during pregnancy, as it represents a period of heightened vulnerability to disruptions for the newborn.
Objective
The aim of this study was to identify perinatal exposure profiles to phthalates in pregnant women living in Algiers and to explore associations between umbilical cord blood levels of phthalates and reproductive hormone concentrations. The aim also extends to explore the link that could exist between potential sources and the exposure profiles to phthalates.
Methods
This descriptive study was carried out on 154 couples of women-newborns. After gathering necessary information, umbilical cord blood samples were collected. Reproductive hormones were measured by electrochemiluminescence, while phthalate metabolites were detected using LC-MS/MS.
Results
The results showed that MEHP, MEP, and MnBP were detected in 97.4%, 74.7%, and 53.9% of samples. Mean concentrations were 18.680, 11.805, and 7.151 ng/mL for MEHP, MEP, and MnBP, respectively. High concentrations of MEP and MEHP were associated with low umbilical cord levels of testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol. A positive and meaningful association between MnBP and LH levels was found as well. The results indicated that MEHP was associated with changes in the anogenital distance (AGD) in both male and female newborns, as positive significant correlation has been found between MEHP levels and female AGD as well as an inverse correlation between the same metabolite and male AGD. The evaluation of exposure sources revealed a significant association between the consumption of bottled water and levels of MnBP.
Conclusions
In this study, phthalates were associated with altered levels of reproductive hormones in umbilical cord plasma. These changes may have adverse effects on children development. Results also suggest that the consumption of bottled water may impact the newborns’ endocrine integrity.
期刊介绍：
Chemosphere, being an international multidisciplinary journal, is dedicated to publishing original communications and review articles on chemicals in the environment. The scope covers a wide range of topics, including the identification, quantification, behavior, fate, toxicology, treatment, and remediation of chemicals in the bio-, hydro-, litho-, and atmosphere, ensuring the broad dissemination of research in this field.
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