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[Display omitted] Pregnant women are exposed to multiple phthalates and their replacements, which are endocrine disrupting chemicals associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Identifying maternal characteristics associated with phthalate/replacement exposure during pregnancy is important. We evaluated 13 maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, enrollment year, and conception season as determinants of exposure biomarkers of phthalates and their replacements in 482 pregnant women from the Illinois Kids Development Study (I-KIDS, enrolled 2013–2018). We quantified 19 phthalate/replacement metabolites in pools of five first-morning urines collected across pregnancy. K -means clustering identified women with distinct patterns of biomarker concentrations and principal component analysis (PCA) identified principal component (PC) profiles of biomarkers that exist together. We used multivariable regression models to evaluate associations of predictors with identified k -means clusters and PCs. K -means clustering identified two clusters of women: 1) low phthalate/di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (∑DEHTP) and 2) high phthalate/∑DEHTP biomarker concentrations. PCA identified four PCs with loadings heaviest for biomarkers of plasticizer phthalates [di-isononyl, di-isodecyl, di-n-octyl phthalates] (PC1), of other phthalates [dibenzyl, di-n-butyl, di- iso -butyl phthalates] (PC2), of phthalate replacements [∑DEHTP, di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (∑DiNCH)] (PC3), and of monoethyl phthalate [MEP] (PC4). Overall, age, marital status, income, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, caffeine intake, enrollment year, and conception season were independently associated with k -means cluster membership and at least one PC. Additionally, race/ethnicity, education, employment, pregnancy intention, smoking status, alcohol intake, and diet were associated with at least one PC. For instance, women who conceived in the spring, summer, and/or fall months had lower odds of high phthalate/∑DEHTP cluster membership and had lower plasticizer phthalate, phthalate replacement, and MEP PC scores. Conception season, enrollment year, and several sociodemographic/lifestyle factors were predictive of phthalate/replacement biomarker profiles. Future studies should corroborate these findings, with a special focus on replacements to which pregnant women are becoming increasingly exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We examined associations between gestational PBDE exposure and outcomes at age 12. • Outcomes included self- and caregiver-reported social skills and problem behaviors. • Gestational PBDE exposure was associated with poorer outcomes in adolescent males. • No associations were noted among female participants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent environmental pollutants used as flame retardants. Gestational PBDE exposure has been associated with a variety of behavior problems in children, but little is known about its impact into adolescence, particularly on social skills, which are important for achieving social competence, establishing identity, and forming lasting relationships. We investigated associations between gestational exposure to PBDEs and social skills and problem behaviors in early adolescence in a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio (recruited 2003–2006). We measured maternal serum concentrations of five PBDE congeners during gestation. At age 12, we measured social skills and problem behaviors scores for 243 adolescents using self- and caregiver-report on the Social Skills Improvement System (SSiS). We used multivariable linear regression models to estimate associations between maternal PBDE concentrations and SSiS scores, controlling for potential covariates. We report associations for the five congeners and a summary exposure variable (∑ 5 BDE: the sum of BDE- 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153, n = 197). We found sex-specific associations of ∑ 5 BDE concentrations with adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors (∑ 5 BDE × sex p int = 0.02) and caregiver-reported Social Skills (∑ 5 BDE × sex p int = 0.02). In sex-stratified models, log 10 transformed data revealed increased maternal ∑ 5 BDE concentration among males was associated with decreased caregiver-reported Social Skills composite score (β = -10.2, 95% CI: −19.5, −1.0), increased adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β = 12.1, 95% CI: 5.4, 18.8), and increased caregiver-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β = 6.2, 95% CI: 0.7, 11.7). Further analysis on SSiS subscales revealed similar patterns in significant associations among males. There were no statistically significant associations in stratified models among females despite higher ∑ 5 BDE exposure (Female GM=40.15 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.10; Male GM=35.30 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.09). We found gestational PBDE exposure in males was associated with poorer behavioral outcomes, extending previous findings among this cohort into early adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Systematically reviewed literature evaluating gestational triclosan and birth weight. • Evidence was low risk of bias and provided limited evidence for triclosan toxicity. • Gestational exposure to triclosan may reduce infant birth weight. • Triclosan exposure was higher in North America and Europe compared to Asia. • Inverse associations between triclosan and birth weight in higher exposed samples. Exposure to triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical used in some personal care and cleaning products, has been associated with reduced birth weight in some, but not all epidemiological studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the relation of gestational triclosan exposure with infant birth weight and identify sources of heterogeneity between studies. We identified original studies measuring urinary triclosan concentrations during pregnancy and reporting their association with infant birth weight, gestational age (GA) adjusted birth weight (g), or GA-standardized birth weight z-scores. Using a random effects model, we estimated differences in these outcomes per 10-fold increase in triclosan concentrations and considered triclosan levels and infant sex as sources of heterogeneity. Using Navigation Guide Methods, we evaluated risk of bias within individual studies and across the body of evidence. Among thirteen studies, median triclosan concentrations varied by almost 2-orders of magnitude (0.6–29 ng/mL), with higher concentrations in North American and some European studies compared to Asian ones. Associations between triclosan and birth weight (β :-20 g; 95% CI:-65, 26; n = 6) were stronger than those for GA-adjusted birth weight (β :-12 g; 95% CI:-29, 5; n = 9). Triclosan was not associated with GA-standardized birth weight z-scores (β :-0.04; 95% CI:-0.16, 0.07; n = 5). The association between triclosan and GA-adjusted birth weight was stronger in studies with median triclosan values ≥ 10 ng/mL compared to studies with median values < 10 ng/mL (β :-27 g; 95% CI:-61, 7; n = 4 vs. β :6g; 95% CI:-20, 31; n = 5). With a limited number of studies, we observed suggestive evidence that inverse associations were more apparent in studies with ≥ 2 prospective triclosan measures compared to those with one measure. Available evidence, with "low" risk of bias, provides limited evidence that triclosan exposure and reduces infant birth weight. We observed stronger inverse associations between triclosan concentrations and birth weight in populations with higher triclosan exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phthalate mixture at pregnancy was associated with long-term insulin resistance. • Phthalate mixture at pregnancy was associated with long term adverse lipid profiles. • Associations with glycemia biomarkers were primarily driven by MECPTP and ∑DBP. • Associations with lipid biomarkers were primarily driven by MECPTP, ∑DBP, and MEP. • Pregnancy phthalates exposure may be associated with long-term metabolic health. Pregnancy induces numerous cardiovascular and metabolic changes. Alterations in these sensitive processes may precipitate long-term post-delivery health consequences. Studies have reported associations between phthalates and metabolic complications of pregnancy, but no study has investigated metabolic outcomes beyond pregnancy. To examine associations of exposure to phthalates during pregnancy with post-delivery metabolic health. We quantified 15 urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations during the second and third trimesters among 618 pregnant women from Mexico City. Maternal metabolic health biomarkers included fasting blood measures of glycemia [glucose, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR], % hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c%)] and lipids (total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides), at 4–5 and 6–8 years post-delivery. To estimate the influence of the phthalates mixture, we used Bayesian weighted quantile sum regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression; for individual biomarkers, we used linear mixed models. As a mixture, higher urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations during pregnancy were associated with post-delivery concentrations of plasma glucose (interquartile range [IQR] difference: 0.13 SD, 95%CrI: 0.05, 0.20), plasma insulin (IQR difference: 0.06 SD, 95%CrI: −0.02, 0.14), HOMA-IR (IQR difference: 0.08 SD, 95% CrI: 0.01, 0.16), and HbA1c% (IQR difference: 0.15 SD, 95%CrI: 0.05, 0.24). Associations were primarily driven by mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl terephthalate (MECPTP) and the sum of dibutyl phthalate biomarkers (∑DBP). The phthalates mixture was associated with lower HDL (IQR difference: −0.08 SD, 95%CrI: −0.16, −0.01), driven by ∑DBP and monoethyl phthalate (MEP), and higher triglyceride levels (IQR difference: 0.15 SD, 95%CrI: 0.08, 0.22), driven by MECPTP and MEP. The overall mixture was not associated with total cholesterol and LDL. However, ∑DBP and MEP were associated with lower and higher total cholesterol, respectively, and MECPTP and ∑DBP were associated with lower LDL. Phthalate exposure during pregnancy is associated with adverse long-term changes in maternal metabolic health. A better understanding of timing of the exact biological changes and their implications on metabolic disease risk is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]