US EPA

3350206 

Journal Article 

Maternal phthalate exposure during early pregnancy and at delivery in relation to gestational age and size at birth: A preliminary analysis 

Watkins, DJ; Milewski, S; Domino, SE; Meeker, JD; Padmanabhan, V 

2016 

1 

Reproductive Toxicology
ISSN: 0890-6238
EISSN: 1873-1708 

Elsevier Inc. 

OXFORD 

65 

59-66 

English 

27352641 

10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.06.021 

WOS:000385990900008 

https://search.proquest.com/docview/1837326211?accountid=171501
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Epidemiologic studies of in utero phthalate exposure and birth outcomes have had conflicting findings. The objective of this study was to characterize maternal phthalate exposure across pregnancy, examine associations between maternal phthalate levels and infant size and gestational age at birth, and investigate relationships between concurrent bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate exposure and birth outcomes. Women in the Michigan Mother-Infant Pairs cohort provided urine and blood samples during their first trimester and at delivery. Urinary phthalate metabolites and serum BPA were measured at both time points, and birth weight, length, head circumference, and gestational age were recorded from medical records. Maternal DEHP metabolite concentrations were significantly higher at delivery compared to the first trimester (p<0.05), suggesting increased DEHP exposure late in pregnancy. A number of phthalate metabolites were associated with birth size and gestational age in patterns that varied by sex and timing of exposure, independent of BPA exposure. 

Phthalates; Bisphenol A; In utero; Exposure; Birth weight; Gestational age