Exposure to phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, and psychosocial stress mixtures and pregnancy outcomes in the Atlanta African American maternal-child cohort

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 233; p. 116464
• Main Authors: Eatman, Jasmin A., Dunlop, Anne L., Barr, Dana Boyd, Corwin, Elizabeth J., Hill, Cherie C., Brennan, Patricia A., Ryan, P. Barry, Panuwet, Parinya, Taibl, Kaitlin R., Tan, Youran, Liang, Donghai, Eick, Stephanie M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.09.2023
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds - adverse effects; Benzhydryl Compounds - metabolism; Benzhydryl Compounds - pharmacology; Benzhydryl Compounds - urine; Birth Weight - drug effects; Bisphenol A; Black or African American - psychology; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Pollutants - adverse effects; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Pollutants - pharmacology; Environmental Pollutants - urine; Female; Georgia; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Mixtures; Phthalates; Phthalic Acids - adverse effects; Phthalic Acids - metabolism; Phthalic Acids - pharmacology; Phthalic Acids - urine; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - ethnology; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - ethnology; Prospective Studies; Racial disparities; Stress, Psychological - ethnology; Georgia; Pregnancy; Bisphenol A; Racial disparities; Mixtures; Phthalates
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116464

Consumer products are common sources of exposure for phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which disrupt the endocrine system. Psychosocial stressors have been shown to amplify the toxic effects of endocrine disruptors but, information is limited among African Americans (AAs), who experience the highest rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes and are often exposed to the highest levels of chemical and non-chemical stressors. We examined the association between an exposure mixture of phthalate metabolites, BPA, and psychosocial stressors with gestational age at delivery and birthweight for gestational age z-scores in pregnant AA women. Participants were enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort (N = 247). Concentrations of eight phthalate metabolites and BPA were measured in urine samples collected at up to two timepoints during pregnancy (8–14 weeks gestation and 20–32 weeks gestation) and were averaged. Psychosocial stressors were measured using self-reported, validated questionnaires that assessed experiences of discrimination, gendered racial stress, depression, and anxiety. Linear regression was used to estimate individual associations between stress exposures (chemical and psychosocial) and birth outcomes. We leveraged quantile g-computation was used to examine joint effects of chemical and stress exposures on gestational age at delivery (in weeks) and birthweight for gestational age z-scores. A simultaneous increase in all phthalate metabolites and BPA was associated with a moderate reduction in birthweight z-scores (mean change per quartile increase = −0.22, 95% CI = −0.45, 0.0). The association between our exposure mixture and birthweight z-scores became stronger when including psychosocial stressors as additional exposures (mean change per quantile increase = −0.35, 95% CI = −0.61, −0.08). Overall, we found null associations between exposure to chemical and non-chemical stressors with gestational age at delivery. In a prospective cohort of AA mother-newborn dyads, we observed that increased prenatal exposure to phthalates, BPA, and psychosocial stressors were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. •This study was conducted to better understand the impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors among African American women.•Increases in exposure to phthalates, BPA, and psychosocial stressors were associated with a decrease in birthweight.•Our findings underscore the need for further research analyzing chemical and non-chemical stressors.