Maternal Phthalate and Bisphenol Urine Concentrations during Pregnancy and Early Markers of Arterial Health in Children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols might lead to fetal cardiovascular developmental adaptations and predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease in later life. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations of maternal urinary bisphenol and phthalate concentrations in pregnancy with offspring carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility at the age of 10 y. METHODS: In a population-based, prospective cohort study of 935 mother–child pairs, we measured maternal urinary phthalate and bisphenol concentrations at each trimester. Later, we measured child carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility in the children at age 10 y using ultrasound. RESULTS: Maternal urinary average or trimester-specific phthalate concentrations were not associated with child carotid intima-media thickness at age 10 y. Higher maternal average concentrations of total bisphenol, especially bisphenol A, were associated with a lower carotid intima-media thickness [differences −0:15 standard deviation score and 95% confidence interval (CI): −0:24, −0:09 and −0:13 (95% CI: −0:22, −0:04) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in maternal urinary total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentration]. Trimester-specific analysis showed that higher maternal third-trimester total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentrations were associated with lower child carotid intima-media thickness [differences −0:13 (95% CI: −0:22, −0:04) and −0:13 (95% CI: −0:22, −0:05) per IQR increase in maternal urinary bisphenol concentration]. Maternal urinary bisphenol or phthalate concentrations were not associated with child carotid distensibility. DISCUSSION: In this large prospective cohort, higher maternal urinary bisphenols concentrations were associated with smaller childhood carotid intima-media thickness. Further studies are needed to replicate this association and to identify potential underlying mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10293.