1. Sources of exposure to urinary phthalates among couples undergoing infertility treatment.
- Author
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Begum TF, Gerona R, Melamed J, McGough A, Lenhart N, Wong R, Mok-Lin E, Butts CD, Feingold BJ, Romeiko XX, Fujimoto VY, and Bloom MS
- Subjects
- Adult, Anti-Allergic Agents, Cosmetics, Dietary Supplements, Environmental Exposure, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Food Contamination, Food Packaging, Humans, Infertility therapy, Male, Environmental Pollutants urine, Infertility urine, Phthalic Acids urine
- Abstract
Phthalates have been implicated as reproductive toxicants in animal models and in human populations. This study examined associations between potential exposure sources and urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations among women (n = 56) and their male partners (n = 43) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). On the day of oocyte retrieval, participants provided urine samples and completed questionnaires detailing use of personal care products (PCPs), and consumption of medications, foods, and beverages in the preceding 24 h. Urine was analyzed for MEP, MBP, MPP, MHxP, MEHP, MEHHP, MECPP, MiNP, MiDP, MCHP, and MBzP, via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We employed principal component analysis (PCA) to summarize exposure sources and regression models to estimate associations between exposure patterns and urinary phthalate metabolites, adjusted for confounding variables. Among women, application of more body washes and eye creams, and consumption of more supplements, was associated with greater urinary MECPP [relative difference = 1.36 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.45)] and the molar sum of DEHP metabolites, including MEHP, MEHHP, and MECPP [∑DEHP; 1.26 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.34)]. Among men, consumption of more supplements and allergy medications was associated with greater urinary MECPP, MEHHP, and ∑DEHP [relative difference = 1.13 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.23)] concentrations. Identifying differences in sources of phthalate exposure may help clinicians to intervene to reduce exposure as part of a comprehensive strategy to help improve IVF outcomes., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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