Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study

Elizabeth Cullen; David Evans; Chris Griffin; Padraig Burke; Rory Mannion; Damien Burns; Andrew Flanagan; Ann Kellegher; Greet Schoeters; Eva Govarts; Pierre Biot; Ludwine Casteleyn; Argelia Castaño; Marike Kolossa-Gehring; Marta Esteban; Gerda Schwedler; Holger M. Koch; Jürgen Angerer; Lisbeth E. Knudsen; Reinhard Joas; Anke Joas; Birgit Dumez; Ovnair Sepai; Karen Exley; Dominique Aerts

doi:10.3390/ijerph14121456

Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study

Elizabeth Cullen^*, David Evans, Chris Griffin, Padraig Burke, Rory Mannion, Damien Burns, Andrew Flanagan, Ann Kellegher, Greet Schoeters, Eva Govarts, Pierre Biot, Ludwine Casteleyn, Argelia Castaño, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Marta Esteban, Gerda Schwedler, Holger M. Koch, Jürgen Angerer, Lisbeth E. Knudsen, Reinhard JoasAnke Joas, Birgit Dumez, Ovnair Sepai, Karen Exley, Dominique Aerts

^*Corresponding author for this work

18 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Background: Phthalates are chemicals which are widespread in the environment. Although the impacts on health of such exposure are unclear, there is evidence of a possible impact on the incidence of a diverse range of diseases. Monitoring of human exposure to phthalates is therefore important. This study aimed to determine the extent of phthalate exposure among mothers and their children in both rural and urban areas in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated concentrations. It formed part of the ‘Demonstration of a study to Co-ordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale’ (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study.

Methods: the concentration of phthalate metabolites were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. The median age of the children was 8 years. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding lifestyle and environmental conditions of the children and mothers. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results.

Results: Phthalate metabolites were detected in all of the samples from both children and mothers. Concentrations were significantly higher in respondents from families with lower educational attainment and in those exposed to such items as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fast food and personal care products (PCP).

Conclusions: The study demonstrates that human biomonitoring for assessing exposure to phthalates can be undertaken in Ireland and that the exposure of the population is widespread. Further work will be necessary before the consequences of this exposure are understood.

Original language	English
Article number	1456
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	14
Issue number	12
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
ISSN	1661-7827
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121456
Publication status	Published - Dec 2017

Keywords

Endocrine disruptors
Exposure
Human biomonitoring
Phthalates

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cullen, E., Evans, D., Griffin, C., Burke, P., Mannion, R., Burns, D., Flanagan, A., Kellegher, A., Schoeters, G., Govarts, E., Biot, P., Casteleyn, L., Castaño, A., Kolossa-Gehring, M., Esteban, M., Schwedler, G., Koch, H. M., Angerer, J., Knudsen, L. E., ... Aerts, D. (2017). Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(12), 1-12. Article 1456. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121456

Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study. / Cullen, Elizabeth; Evans, David; Griffin, Chris et al.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 14, No. 12, 1456, 12.2017, p. 1-12.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Cullen, E, Evans, D, Griffin, C, Burke, P, Mannion, R, Burns, D, Flanagan, A, Kellegher, A, Schoeters, G, Govarts, E, Biot, P, Casteleyn, L, Castaño, A, Kolossa-Gehring, M, Esteban, M, Schwedler, G, Koch, HM, Angerer, J, Knudsen, LE, Joas, R, Joas, A, Dumez, B, Sepai, O, Exley, K & Aerts, D 2017, 'Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 14, no. 12, 1456, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121456

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title = "Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study",

abstract = "Background: Phthalates are chemicals which are widespread in the environment. Although the impacts on health of such exposure are unclear, there is evidence of a possible impact on the incidence of a diverse range of diseases. Monitoring of human exposure to phthalates is therefore important. This study aimed to determine the extent of phthalate exposure among mothers and their children in both rural and urban areas in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated concentrations. It formed part of the {\textquoteleft}Demonstration of a study to Co-ordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale{\textquoteright} (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study. Methods: the concentration of phthalate metabolites were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. The median age of the children was 8 years. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding lifestyle and environmental conditions of the children and mothers. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results. Results: Phthalate metabolites were detected in all of the samples from both children and mothers. Concentrations were significantly higher in respondents from families with lower educational attainment and in those exposed to such items as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fast food and personal care products (PCP). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that human biomonitoring for assessing exposure to phthalates can be undertaken in Ireland and that the exposure of the population is widespread. Further work will be necessary before the consequences of this exposure are understood.",

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T1 - Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland

T2 - Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study

AU - Cullen, Elizabeth

AU - Evans, David

AU - Griffin, Chris

AU - Burke, Padraig

AU - Mannion, Rory

AU - Burns, Damien

AU - Flanagan, Andrew

AU - Kellegher, Ann

AU - Schoeters, Greet

AU - Govarts, Eva

AU - Biot, Pierre

AU - Casteleyn, Ludwine

AU - Castaño, Argelia

AU - Kolossa-Gehring, Marike

AU - Esteban, Marta

AU - Schwedler, Gerda

AU - Koch, Holger M.

AU - Angerer, Jürgen

AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E.

AU - Joas, Reinhard

AU - Joas, Anke

AU - Dumez, Birgit

AU - Sepai, Ovnair

AU - Exley, Karen

AU - Aerts, Dominique

PY - 2017/12

Y1 - 2017/12

N2 - Background: Phthalates are chemicals which are widespread in the environment. Although the impacts on health of such exposure are unclear, there is evidence of a possible impact on the incidence of a diverse range of diseases. Monitoring of human exposure to phthalates is therefore important. This study aimed to determine the extent of phthalate exposure among mothers and their children in both rural and urban areas in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated concentrations. It formed part of the ‘Demonstration of a study to Co-ordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale’ (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study. Methods: the concentration of phthalate metabolites were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. The median age of the children was 8 years. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding lifestyle and environmental conditions of the children and mothers. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results. Results: Phthalate metabolites were detected in all of the samples from both children and mothers. Concentrations were significantly higher in respondents from families with lower educational attainment and in those exposed to such items as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fast food and personal care products (PCP). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that human biomonitoring for assessing exposure to phthalates can be undertaken in Ireland and that the exposure of the population is widespread. Further work will be necessary before the consequences of this exposure are understood.

AB - Background: Phthalates are chemicals which are widespread in the environment. Although the impacts on health of such exposure are unclear, there is evidence of a possible impact on the incidence of a diverse range of diseases. Monitoring of human exposure to phthalates is therefore important. This study aimed to determine the extent of phthalate exposure among mothers and their children in both rural and urban areas in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated concentrations. It formed part of the ‘Demonstration of a study to Co-ordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale’ (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study. Methods: the concentration of phthalate metabolites were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. The median age of the children was 8 years. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding lifestyle and environmental conditions of the children and mothers. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results. Results: Phthalate metabolites were detected in all of the samples from both children and mothers. Concentrations were significantly higher in respondents from families with lower educational attainment and in those exposed to such items as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fast food and personal care products (PCP). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that human biomonitoring for assessing exposure to phthalates can be undertaken in Ireland and that the exposure of the population is widespread. Further work will be necessary before the consequences of this exposure are understood.

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KW - Exposure

KW - Human biomonitoring

KW - Phthalates

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C2 - 29186834

AN - SCOPUS:85036533494

SN - 1661-7827

VL - 14

SP - 1

EP - 12

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

IS - 12

M1 - 1456

ER -

Urinary phthalate concentrations in mothers and their children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES human biomonitoring study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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