Increased levels of phthalates in very low birth weight infants with septicemia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Environ Int. 2016 Apr-May:89-90:228-34. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.01.024. Epub 2016 Feb 26.

Abstract

Very low birth weight infants (VLBW; birth weight<1500g) are exposed to potentially harmful phthalates from medical devices during their hospital stay. We measured urinary phthalate concentrations among hospitalized VLBW infants participating in a nutritional study. Possible associations between different phthalates and birth weight (BW), septicemia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were evaluated. Forty-six VLBW infants were enrolled in this randomized controlled nutritional study. The intervention group (n=24) received increased quantities of energy, protein, fat, essential fatty acids and vitamin A, as compared to the control group (n=22). The concentrations of 12 urinary phthalate metabolites were measured, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, at 3 time points during the first 5weeks of life. During this study, the levels of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites decreased, whereas an increasing trend was seen regarding metabolites of di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP). Significantly higher levels of phthalate metabolites were seen in infants with lower BW and those diagnosed with late onset septicemia or BPD. A significant positive correlation between the duration of respiratory support and DEHP metabolites was observed (p≤0.01) at 2.9weeks of age. Birth weight was negatively associated with urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations. Infants with lower BW and those diagnosed with septicemia or BPD experienced prolonged exposure from medical equipment containing phthalates, with subsequent higher levels of phthalate metabolites detected. Clinical Trial Registration no.: NCT01103219.

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Exposure; Phthalate metabolites; Preterm infants; Septicemia; Urine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Birth Weight
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / urine*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / urine*
  • Male
  • Phthalic Acids / urine*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Sepsis / urine*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Phthalic Acids

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01103219