ArticleJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2025
Phthalates and bisphenols early-life exposure, and childhood allergic conditions: a pooled analysis of cohort studies.
Article in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Subgroup analyses and effect modification with Bayesian kernel machine regression.American journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Prenatal phthalate exposure and neurodevelopmental delay in early childhood (1 to 3 years): An Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) study.Environment international · 2026Article
- Prenatal exposure to environmental phenolic compounds and their association with childhood atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis in the ECHO cohort.Environment international · 2025Article
- Prenatal Dietary Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors and Its Lasting Impact on Offspring Health.Toxics · 2025Review
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18 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundExposure to plastic additives, such as phthalates and bisphenols, has been associated with a higher risk of allergic conditions, but the evidence is inconsistent for children younger than five.
objectiveTo examine the association between pre- and postnatal urinary phthalates and bisphenols, and allergic conditions, and potential effect modification by sex, in pre-school children, through a pooled analysis.
methodsWe pooled data from the Barwon Infant Study (Australia), the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study (Canada), the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (United States) and the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes-wide cohorts (United States). Urinary phthalates and bisphenols were measured during pregnancy and early childhood. We estimated daily intakes from urinary concentrations, except for mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP). Outcomes, including asthma, wheeze, eczema, and rhinitis, were assessed up to five years of age through questionnaires and clinical assessments. We used generalised estimating equations for single compounds and quantile G-computation for the chemical mixtures.
results5306 children were included. A two-fold increase in prenatal dibutyl phthalates (DBP; risk ratio [RR] = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.16) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBzP; RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.00-1.12) increased the risk of asthma in children under five. Prenatal MCPP levels were associated with rhinitis (RR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01-1.09). Postnatal BBzP levels increased the risk of wheezing (RR = 1.05; 95%CI 1.01-1.09), as well as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP; RR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.01-1.11) and MCPP (RR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.04-1.14). These were also inversely associated with eczema. A one-quartile increase in the postnatal chemical mixture increased the risk of wheezing (RR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.02-1.26). There was limited evidence of effect modification by sex. IMPACT: Phthalates and bisphenols are widespread and may contribute to allergic conditions in children. We pooled data from 5000 children across multiple birth cohorts, suggesting that early-life exposure to these chemicals is associated with increased risks of asthma, wheezing, and rhinitis by age five. We further investigated the timing of exposure, non-linear dose-response relationships, and effect measure modification by sex. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of early-life exposure to phthalates and bisphenols and strengthens the evidence for their role in the development of childhood allergic outcomes.
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