US BioTek Laboratories News

Environmental Toxics Exposure and the Baby…

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Phthalates…
There is a possibility of a direct impact of environmental toxics exposure on a child’s growth, development and health. Prenatal phthalate exposure for example, at environmental levels has been shown to adversely effect genital development in male infants. In a study by Swan et al., phthalate monoester metabolites, including monoethyl phthalate, were measured in prenatal urine samples from a cohort of 85 women in their 28th gestational week. The research team found an inverse and significant relationship between urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and the age-adjusted anogenital distance (AGD), of the male offspring. The association between male genital development and phthalate exposure are suggested by the research team to be consistent with the reported phthalate-related syndrome of incomplete virilization in prenatally exposed rodents. Phthalates are widely used in personal care products, plastics, paints and some pesticides formulations.

Benzene…
In this month’s edition of Environmental Health Perspectives, August 2009, Slama et al., observed decreased birth weight and head circumference during pregnancy and at birth in the offspring of a cohort of 271 nonsmoking women. Maternal pregnancy exposure to benzene was monitored for 1 week at the 27th gestational week using a personal diffusive air sampler devise. Benzene exposure was higher for women using a car as their main means of transportation compared to those walking. A benzene exposure level in the highest scored category was associated with a gestational age-adjusted decrease of 68g in mean birth weight and of 1.9 mm in mean head circumference during the third trimester and at birth.  Benzene is a known marker of exposure to traffic-related air pollutants. It is used as an additive in gasoline for its anti-knocking properties. A joint effect of several aromatic hydrocarbons from traffic exhaust is suggested by the research team to be attributed to their findings on fetal growth.

These articles may be found at the references:

http://www.ehponline.org/ - Decrease in anogenital distance among male infants with prenatal phthalate exposure.

http://www.ehponline.org/ - Swan SH, Main KM, Liu F, Stewart SL, Kruse RL, Calafat AM, Mao CS, Redmon JB, Ternand CL, Sullivan S, Teague JL, and the study for future families research team.
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2005 Aug; 113(8):1056-1060.

http://www.ehponline.org/ - Maternal personal exposure to airborne benzene and intrauterine growth.

http://www.ehponline.org/ - Slama R, Thiebaugeorges O, Goua V, Aussel L, Sacco P, Bohet A, Forhan A, Ducot B, Annesi-Maesano I, Heinrich J, Magnin G, Schweitzer M, Kaminski M, Marie-Aline C, and the EDEN mother-child cohort study group.
Environmental Health Perspectives.
2009 Aug; 117(8):1313-1321.

US BioTek’s Environmental Pollutants Profile measures metabolites of phthalates, benzene in addition to metabolites of 5 other environmentally “hot” compounds. This panel is available from a simple spot urine that utilizes our proprietary Dip ‘N Dry urine collection strip to maximize analyte stability and recovery.

Full interpretations and detoxification guidelines are provided by Lab Interpretation LLC.

To view complete test profile information please click here.

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