Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Reduction Through an Integrated Intervention Strategy

Abstract Pregnancy represents a sensitive susceptibility window to phthalate esters (PAEs). In this study, we develop an intervention strategy for reducing the exposure of pregnant women to phthalates. Thirty-five pregnant women, who initially underwent maternity examination, were recruited from an ongoing longitudinal prospective prenatal cohort study. The intervention strategy integrates diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Participants were encouraged to modify their behaviors and habits according to the intervention strategy at three different periods. Urine samples were collected from the participants after antenatal examination every month, for 8 months, to measure ten PAEs metabolites. The mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) (MEHHP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) declined significantly after the 1st intervention, while mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) noticeably reduced after 2nd intervention. The sum of the molar concentrations of MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, and MECPP reduced by 20% to 40% during subsequent intervention. In addition, the sum of the molar concentrations of MEP, MnBP, MMP, and MiBP) as well as the sum of the molar concentrations of the ten metabolites also reduced. Our findings suggest that intervention through written recommendations can effectively reduce the burden of phthalates during pregnancy.