Effect Of Phthalate Exposure During Pregnancy On Growth And Development In Young Infany

Objectives: This study intends to evaluate phthalate exposure level in pregnant women in Shanghai and explore the related influencing factors. Then, analyze the effect of phthalate exposure during pregnancy on the growth and development in young infancy.Methods: In accordance with the principle of informed consent and voluntary, recruiting pregnant women formed mother-baby cohort from Shanghai First Maternal and Infant Hospital. Collect the women’s clean middle urine at the process of waiting for delivery. Within 3 days after delivery, by the trained investigators, record neonatal birth weight and birth body length, measure and record neonatal head circumference, anogenital distance, and subcutaneous fat thickness, and then, the mother or family member complete the questionnaire. In postpartum 42 days examination, using Er-xin scales assessment the baby’s neuropsychological development, and then, the parents completed the general information questionnaire, ASQ-C 1-2 + 30 month questionnaire. Testing DBP content in the urine by gas phase mass spectrometry and assessing the DBP exposure level in pregnant women, using Logistic regression model to explore the influence factors and the effecting on physical growth and neuropsychological development in young infancy.Results:(1)The exposure level of DBP in the urine of pregnant women: 426 pregnant women, the urine DBP positive rate is 100%, the lowest value is 0.39 μg/L, the highest value is 22.00 μg/L.(2) The influencing factors of DBP exposure in the urine of pregnant women: X2 test shows that, these factors below are related, such as the family income, using plastic cups a year before pregnancy in high frequency, whether existing chemical emission source within 5 minutes’ walk distance of house, whether using a wooden roof in the house and whether decorating the house a year before pregnancy(X2 is 25.207,4.053, 4.340,3.870 and 5.527 respectively, P < 0.05). The multiple logistic regression shows that: the difference between the high exposure group and low exposure group is significant at this three factors. They are whether existing chemical emission source within 5 minutes’ walk distance of house, whether using a wooden roof in house and whether decorating the house a year before pregnancy, OR and 95%CI is 3.802(1.147-12.608), 3.620(1.261-10.395) and 2.199(1.224-3.954) respectively.(3)The DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women and neonatal physical growth and development: the effect of DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women on neonatal birth weight, height, head circumference, anogenital distance and subcutaneous fat thickness is not significant, P > 0.05.(4) The DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women and neuropsychological development in young infancy: the effect of DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women on final motor area, adaptation ability area and DQ in Er-xin scales in young infancy is significant, the score in low exposure group is superior to the high exposure group(t is 2.320, 3.722 and 3.005, P < 0.05). However, at the gross motor area, language area, social area in Er-xin scales, and CM, GM, FM, CG and PS areas in ASQ-C, the difference is not significant, P > 0.05.Conclusion:(1) The DBP positive rate in the urine of pregnant women is 100%, shows that pregnant women in Shanghai are generally exposed to phthalate,but the concentration is lower than other studies from civil and international documents.(2) Low family income, ofen using plastic cups a year before pregnancy, existing chemical emission source within 5 minutes’ walk distance of house, using a non-wooden roof in home and decorating the house a year before pregnancy factors are contribute to the DBP concentration increasing in the urine of pregnant women significantly.(3) The lower level DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women has no significant effect on neonatal birth weight, height, head circumference, anogenital distance and subcutaneous fat thickness.(4) The effect of lower level DBP concentration in the urine of pregnant women on final motor area, adaptation ability area and DQ is significant in young infancy, however, on the gross motor area, language area and social area is not significant.