Urinary Phthalate Concentrations in Mothers and Their Children in Ireland: Results of the DEMOCOPHES Human Biomonitoring Study

Elizabeth Cullen, David Evans, Chris Griffin, Padraig Burke, Rory Mannion, Damien Burns, Andrew Flanagan, Ann Kellegher, Greet Schoeters, Eva Govarts, Pierre Biot, Ludwine Casteleyn, Argelia Castaño, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Marta Esteban, Gerda Schwedler, Holger M. Koch, Jürgen Angerer, Lisbeth E. Knudsen, Reinhard Joas, Anke Joas, Birgit Dumez, Ovnair Sepai, Karen Exley and Dominique Aerts
Additional contact information
Elizabeth Cullen: Department of Community of Health, Health Service Executive, St. Mary’s, Naas, Kildare W91 NR29, Ireland
David Evans: Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive, Galway H91973, Ireland
Chris Griffin: Public Analyst’s Laboratory, Health Service Executive, Dublin D02 P667, Ireland
Padraig Burke: Public Analyst’s Laboratory, Health Service Executive, Galway H91 Y952, Ireland
Rory Mannion: Public Analyst’s Laboratory, Health Service Executive, Galway H91 Y952, Ireland
Damien Burns: Project Manager, Health Service Executive, Palmerstown, Dublin D20 X318, Ireland
Andrew Flanagan: Public Analyst’s Laboratory, Health Service Executive, Galway H91 Y952, Ireland
Ann Kellegher: Environmental Health Service, Health Service Executive, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim N41 XC59, Ireland
Greet Schoeters: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Sustainable Health Mol B-2400, Belgium
Eva Govarts: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Sustainable Health Mol B-2400, Belgium
Pierre Biot: Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels 1060, Belgium
Ludwine Casteleyn: Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Argelia Castaño: Carlos 111 Institute of Health, National Centre for Environmental Health, Majadahonda, Madrid 28220, Spain
Marike Kolossa-Gehring: German Environment Agency, Berlin 14195, Germany
Marta Esteban: Carlos 111 Institute of Health, National Centre for Environmental Health, Majadahonda, Madrid 28220, Spain
Gerda Schwedler: German Environment Agency, Berlin 14195, Germany
Holger M. Koch: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
Jürgen Angerer: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
Lisbeth E. Knudsen: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
Reinhard Joas: BiPRO GmbH, Munich 81545, Germany
Anke Joas: BiPRO GmbH, Munich 81545, Germany
Birgit Dumez: Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Ovnair Sepai: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton OX11 ORQ, Oxfordshire OX11 ORQ, UK
Karen Exley: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Chilton OX11 ORQ, Oxfordshire OX11 ORQ, UK
Dominique Aerts: Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels 1060, Belgium

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Background : Phthalates are chemicals which are widespread in the environment. Although the impacts on health of such exposure are unclear, there is evidence of a possible impact on the incidence of a diverse range of diseases. Monitoring of human exposure to phthalates is therefore important. This study aimed to determine the extent of phthalate exposure among mothers and their children in both rural and urban areas in Ireland, and to identify factors associated with elevated concentrations. It formed part of the ‘Demonstration of a study to Co-ordinate and Perform Human Biomonitoring on a European Scale’ (DEMOCOPHES) pilot biomonitoring study. Methods : the concentration of phthalate metabolites were determined from a convenience sample of 120 mother/child pairs. The median age of the children was 8 years. A questionnaire was used to collect information regarding lifestyle and environmental conditions of the children and mothers. Rigorous quality assurance within DEMOCOPHES guaranteed the accuracy and international comparability of results. Results : Phthalate metabolites were detected in all of the samples from both children and mothers. Concentrations were significantly higher in respondents from families with lower educational attainment and in those exposed to such items as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fast food and personal care products (PCP). Conclusions : The study demonstrates that human biomonitoring for assessing exposure to phthalates can be undertaken in Ireland and that the exposure of the population is widespread. Further work will be necessary before the consequences of this exposure are understood.

Keywords: phthalates; human biomonitoring; exposure; endocrine disruptors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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