The effects of phthalate and nonylphenol exposure on body size and secondary sexual characteristics during puberty
Journal
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
Journal Volume
218
Journal Issue
7
Start Page
603-615
ISSN
1438-4639
Date Issued
2015-10
Author(s)
Hou, Jia-Woei
Lin, Ching-Ling
Tsai, Yen-An
Chang, Chia-Huang
Yu, Ching-Jung
Yang, Winnie
Lee, Ming-Jun
Huang, Po-Chin
Sun, Chien-Wen
Wang, Yin-Han
Lin, Fang-Ru
Wu, Wen-Chiu
Lee, Meng-Chih
Pan, Wen-Harn
Chen, Bai-Hsiun
Wu, Ming-Tsang
Chen, Chu-Chih
Wang, Shu-Li
Lee, Ching-Chang
Hsiung, Chao Agnes
Chen, Mei-Lien
Abstract
Background: Some phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and nonylphenol (NP) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are widely used in consumer products. Consequently, the general population is exposed simultaneously to both groups of chemicals.
Objective: To investigate the single- and co-exposure effects of PAEs (DMP, DEP, DnBP, DiBP, BBzP, and DEHP) and NP on obesity and pubertal maturity to compare the body sizes of general adolescents with the complainants of the phthalate-tainted foods scandal that occurred in Taiwan.
Methods: This study included 270 general adolescents aged 6.5-15.0 years and 38 complainants aged 6.5-8.5 years. Nine metabolites of the five PAEs and of NP were measured in urine. We used a questionnaire to evaluate pubertal maturity, measured anthropometric indices (APs) to assess body size, and collected urine samples to measure the two groups of chemicals.
Results: We found that urinary PAE metabolite concentrations (specifically, metabolites of DEP, DnBP, DiBP, and DEHP) were positively associated with the APs for abdominal obesity (including skinfold thickness, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip) and indicated a dose-response relationship. Mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) exposure was inversely associated with pubarche among boys. The daily intake of DEHP in general adolescents exceeded the reference doses (RfD-20 μg/kgbw/day) and tolerable daily intake (TDI-50 μg/kgbw/day) by 3.4% and 0.4%, respectively. No associations were observed between NP exposure or co-exposure and the APs or pubertal maturity. No significant differences were observed between general adolescents and the complainants with regard to weight, height, or BMI.
Conclusions: The study suggests that PAE (specifically, DEP, DnBP, DiBP, and DEHP) exposure is associated with abdominal obesity in adolescents and that the APs for abdominal obesity are more sensitive than BMI for measuring obesity among adolescents. We suggest that the RfD and TDI for PAEs should be revised to provide sufficient protection.
Subjects
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Nonylphenol
Obesity
Phthalic acid esters
Pubertal maturity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article