TY - JOUR
T1 - Developing an intervention strategy to reduce phthalate exposure in Taiwanese girls
AU - Chen, Chung Yu
AU - Chou, Yen Yin
AU - Lin, Shio Jean
AU - Lee, Ching Chang
N1 - Funding Information:
We are indebted to the girls who participated in this study, and to their parents. We thank the Taiwan National Science Council for financial support (NSC 98-2621-M-006-002 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2015/6/1
Y1 - 2015/6/1
N2 - Children in Taiwan seem to be exposed to higher concentrations of phthalates than do children in Western countries. We developed intervention strategies to reduce the exposure of phthalates in Taiwanese girls. Thirty girls 4-13. years old who had been exposed to high levels of phthalates were selected from prior studies. To reduce their phthalate-exposure sources, we developed seven intervention strategies: handwashing, not using plastic containers, not eating food with a plastic bag/plastic-wrap cover, not microwaving food, not taking nutrition supplements, and reducing use of cosmetics/personal care products. Pre- and post-intervention urine samples were collected during a one-week study. HPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze urinary phthalate metabolites. The dominant urinary phthalate metabolite was mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), followed by mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP). Post-intervention concentrations of eight urinary phthalate metabolites were significantly lower. Girls in the high-frequency handwashing group had significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.009) and mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) (p= 0.07) than did girls in the low-frequency handwashing group. Girls who drank fewer beverages from plastic cups had significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.016), MEHHP (p= 0.038), and MECPP (p= 0.012). Girls who used less shampoo and shower gel also had marginally significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.06) and mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) (p= 0.06). The intervention strategies that we set up in this study were effective for reducing exposure to phthalates in children. Handwashing and drinking fewer beverages from plastic cups were the most effective strategies for reducing phthalate metabolites in urine, especially MBP and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. Education and voluntary self-restraint were useful for reducing the body burden of phthalates.
AB - Children in Taiwan seem to be exposed to higher concentrations of phthalates than do children in Western countries. We developed intervention strategies to reduce the exposure of phthalates in Taiwanese girls. Thirty girls 4-13. years old who had been exposed to high levels of phthalates were selected from prior studies. To reduce their phthalate-exposure sources, we developed seven intervention strategies: handwashing, not using plastic containers, not eating food with a plastic bag/plastic-wrap cover, not microwaving food, not taking nutrition supplements, and reducing use of cosmetics/personal care products. Pre- and post-intervention urine samples were collected during a one-week study. HPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze urinary phthalate metabolites. The dominant urinary phthalate metabolite was mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), followed by mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP). Post-intervention concentrations of eight urinary phthalate metabolites were significantly lower. Girls in the high-frequency handwashing group had significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.009) and mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) (p= 0.07) than did girls in the low-frequency handwashing group. Girls who drank fewer beverages from plastic cups had significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.016), MEHHP (p= 0.038), and MECPP (p= 0.012). Girls who used less shampoo and shower gel also had marginally significantly lower urinary MBP (p= 0.06) and mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) (p= 0.06). The intervention strategies that we set up in this study were effective for reducing exposure to phthalates in children. Handwashing and drinking fewer beverages from plastic cups were the most effective strategies for reducing phthalate metabolites in urine, especially MBP and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. Education and voluntary self-restraint were useful for reducing the body burden of phthalates.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.021
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 25725197
AN - SCOPUS:84923333652
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 517
SP - 125
EP - 131
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -