NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Findings from a study of Chinese newborns suggest that maternal-fetal exposure to phthalates — plasticizer chemicals used in many consumer products — increases the risk of low birth weight (LBW).

In animal studies, phthalate exposure has been linked to reduced fetal birth weight and shortened gestational period, note Dr. Ren-Shan Ge, from Rockefeller University, New York, and colleagues there and in Shanghai. “No data are available regarding a possible association between phthalate exposure and neonatal low birth weight in humans, however,” they point out.

To look into this, the researchers measured phthalate levels in maternal blood, cord blood, and meconium specimens obtained from 88 newborn-mother pairs with LBW and 113 control pairs. Phthalate levels were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

LBW and control pairs were similar in terms of gestational age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, prenatal care, vitamin supplementation, and socioeconomic levels, according to the report in the June 25th online issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

Measurable phthalate levels were present in over 70% of samples taken and significantly higher levels were noted in case pairs than in controls. In particular, prenatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) was linked to LBW, while exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was associated with shorter birth lengths.

On multivariate analysis, DBP cord serum levels in the highest quartile were associated with an odds ratio of 3.54 for LBW relative to levels in the lowest quartile.

The results suggest that prenatal phthalate exposure may be a risk factor for LBW, the authors conclude. “Continued surveillance and additional research are needed to evaluate the complex potential health risks from high exposure to phthalates.”

Reference:
J Pediatr 2009.