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HERO ID
3859047
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Toxicoanthropology: Phthalate exposure in relation to market access in a remote forager-horticulturalist population
Author(s)
Sobolewski, M; Weiss, B; Martin, M; Gurven, M; Barrett, E
Year
2017
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
ISSN:
1438-4639
EISSN:
1618-131X
Volume
220
Issue
5
Page Numbers
799-809
Language
English
PMID
28392401
DOI
10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.03.009
Web of Science Id
WOS:000404817700002
URL
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85017094405&doi=10.1016%2fj.ijheh.2017.03.009&partnerID=40&md5=9b241a1479b5af1c9cc2eaae3f665feb
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Abstract
Phthalates are a class of plasticizing chemicals produced in high volume and widely found in consumer products. Evidence suggests that phthalates may have non-monotonic effects on reproductive hormone activity. With exposure to phthalates virtually ubiquitous among industrialized populations, identifying unexposed and/or minimally exposed human populations is essential for understanding the effects of low level exposures. Our primary objective was to quantify urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in the Tsimane', a remote population of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. Our secondary objectives were to determine if phthalate metabolite concentrations vary in relation to access to market goods; and to explore relationships between phthalate and reproductive hormone metabolite concentrations. Given that phthalate exposure is of particular concern during fetal development, we focused on reproductive age women in the current analyses. Phthalate metabolites were assayed in urine samples from 59 naturally cycling, reproductive age Tsimane' women. Market access was assessed as: (1) distance from residence to the largest nearby town (San Borja, Bolivia) and (2) Spanish fluency. Urinary reproductive hormone metabolite concentrations were quantified using enzyme immunoassays. We fit linear models to examine: (1) predictors of phthalate exposure; and (2) relationships between urinary phthalate and reproductive hormone metabolite concentrations. Eight phthalate metabolites were detectable in at least 75% of samples. Median concentrations were up to an order of magnitude lower than industrialized populations. Proximity to San Borja and Spanish fluency were strong predictors of exposure. In exploratory analyses, the sum of the di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites (∑DEHP) and Mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were significantly associated with altered concentrations of urinary reproductive hormone metabolites. Remote, subsistence populations, like the Tsimane', offer a unique window into the health effects of endocrine active compounds because: (1) exposures are low and likely to be first generation; (2) a natural fertility lifestyle allows for exploration of reproductive effects; and (3) ever-increasing globalization will result in increasing exposure in the next decade.
Keywords
Phthalates; Global marketplace; Toxicoanthropology; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Low concentration exposure
Tags
IRIS
•
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
Database Searches
LitSearch Jan 2017 - July 2017
Pubmed
•
Diisobutyl Phthalate (DIBP) Final
Database Searches
January 2017 Update
July 2017 Update
Web of Science
PubMed
New for this search
Primary Source of Health Effects Studies
Human health effects studies
No Primary Data on Toxic Effects
Exposure levels
•
Phthalates – Targeted Search for Epidemiological Studies
Source – all searches
Pubmed
WOS
Toxnet
Excluded
Source - August 2017 Update (Private)
Pubmed
Toxnet
WOS
Source - August 2018 Update
WOS
Toxline
Level 1 Screen - Title & Abstract
Excluded
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