Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning

Abstract

Background

Experimental and observational studies have reported biological consequences of phthalate exposure relevant to neurodevelopment.

Objective

Our goal was to examine the association of prenatal phthalate exposure with behavior and executive functioning at 4–9 years of age.

Methods

The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Study enrolled a multiethnic prenatal population in New York City between 1998 and 2002 ( n = 404). Third-trimester maternal urines were collected and analyzed for phthalate metabolites. Children ( n = 188, n = 365 visits) were assessed for cognitive and behavioral development between the ages of 4 and 9 years.

Results

In multivariate adjusted models, increased log _e concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) phthalate metabolites were associated with poorer scores on the aggression [β = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.15– 2.34], conduct problems (β = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.34–3.46), attention problems (β = 1.29; 95% CI, 0.16– 2.41), and depression (β = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.11–2.24) clinical scales; and externalizing problems (β = 1.75; 95% CI, 0.61–2.88) and behavioral symptom index (β = 1.55; 95% CI, 0.39–2.71) composite scales. Increased log _e concentrations of LMW phthalates were also associated with poorer scores on the global executive composite index (β = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.09–2.36) and the emotional control scale (β = 1.33; 95% CI, 0.18– 2.49).

Conclusion

Behavioral domains adversely associated with prenatal exposure to LMW phthalates in our study are commonly found to be affected in children clinically diagnosed with conduct or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.