Grantee Research Project Results
Impacts of Life-stage Exposures to BPA and Phthalates on Growth and Development
EPA Grant Number: R834800C002Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R834800
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico
Center Director: Alshawabkeh, Akram
Title: Impacts of Life-stage Exposures to BPA and Phthalates on Growth and Development
Investigators: Peterson, Karen E.
Institution: University of Michigan
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: August 9, 2010 through August 8, 2013
RFA: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers: Formative Centers (with NIEHS) (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health
Objective:
There is recent evidence that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals used in plastics, personal care products, and other consumer goods, may be associated with adverse effects on fetal and child growth and development. This is of particular concern since most people, including pregnant women and children, are roufinely exposed to these compounds on a daily basis. Despite the evidence that exposures to BPA and phthalates are widespread among the general population and increasing concern for human health impacts associated with exposure, human studies that have investigated these relationships remain limited. The proposed pilot study will assess concentrations of BPA and phthalate metabolites in urine samples collected from 150 women during pregnancy, and in urine samples collected years later from the children during adolescence, to assess relationships between exposure and birth outcome measures, weight and weight gain in early childhood, and between early-life or adolescent exposures and stages of sexual maturation and serum levels of hormones relevant to weight/weight gain and pubertal development. We will also aim to determine modifiable behaviors or product use associated with increased BPA and phthalate exposure in adolescence to inform exposure and risk reducfion approaches. Utilizing archived samples, outcome data, and covariate data collected in an ongoing 15-year longitudinal cohort study taking place in Mexico, along with new samples and data being collected by the P20 research project (Project 1), the proposed pilot is a timely and highly cost-effective exploratory study of exposure to common environmental endocrine disrupting compounds at different life stages in relation to growth and development.
Expected Results:
Findings from this study, which will be well-powered for a pilot, will assist in determining health risks associated with these compounds and will provide important data for the design of larger, more detailed hypothesis-driven studies that can also incorporate dietary, genetic, and epigenetic influences on these exposure-response relationships within this and other large longitudinal cohort studies. The pilot project will be well-integrated with the other Center projects and cores.
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, HUMAN HEALTH, Exposure, Biochemistry, Children's Health, Environmental Policy, Biology, abnormal sexual maturation, epigenetics, age-related differences, biological response, environmental risks, perinatal exposure, childhood obesity, assessment of exposure, children's environmental health, dietary exposure, dietary factors, developmental disordersProgress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R834800 Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R834800C001 In Utero Lead Exposure: Fetal Epigenetics and Life-Course Physiologic Effects
R834800C002 Impacts of Life-stage Exposures to BPA and Phthalates on Growth and Development
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.