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Impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on newborn metabolome and infant neurodevelopment

Author

Listed:
  • Susan S. Hoffman

    (Emory University)

  • Ziyin Tang

    (Emory University)

  • Anne Dunlop

    (Emory University)

  • Patricia A. Brennan

    (Emory University)

  • Thompson Huynh

    (Emory University)

  • Stephanie M. Eick

    (Emory University)

  • Dana B. Barr

    (Emory University)

  • Blake Rushing

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Susan L. McRitchie

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Susan Sumner

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Kaitlin R. Taibl

    (Emory University)

  • Youran Tan

    (Emory University)

  • Parinya Panuwet

    (Emory University)

  • Grace E. Lee

    (Emory University)

  • Jasmin Eatman

    (Emory University)

  • Elizabeth J. Corwin

    (Columbia University)

  • P. Barry Ryan

    (Emory University)

  • Dean P. Jones

    (Emory University)

  • Donghai Liang

    (Emory University
    Emory University)

Abstract

We evaluated associations among exposure to prenatal phthalate metabolites, perturbations of the newborn metabolome, and infant neurobehavioral functioning in mother-newborn pairs enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort during 2016–2018. We quantified eight phthalate metabolites in prenatal urine samples collected between 8- and 14-weeks’ (visit 1; n = 216) and 24- and 30-weeks’ gestation (visit 2; n = 145) and metabolite features in newborn dried-blood spot samples collected at delivery. Associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations and metabolic feature intensities at both visits were examined using adjusted generalized linear models (MWAS). Then, an exploratory meet-in-the-middle (MITM) analysis was conducted in a subset with NICU Neonatal Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) scores (visit 1 n = 81; visit 2 n = 71). In both the MWAS and MITM, many of the confirmed metabolites are involved in tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism, including tryptophan, tyrosine, thyroxine, and serine. This analysis elucidates how prenatal phthalate exposure disrupts the newborn metabolome and infant neurobehavioral outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan S. Hoffman & Ziyin Tang & Anne Dunlop & Patricia A. Brennan & Thompson Huynh & Stephanie M. Eick & Dana B. Barr & Blake Rushing & Susan L. McRitchie & Susan Sumner & Kaitlin R. Taibl & Youran Ta, 2025. "Impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on newborn metabolome and infant neurodevelopment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57273-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57273-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Henrieta Hlisníková & Ida Petrovičová & Branislav Kolena & Miroslava Šidlovská & Alexander Sirotkin, 2020. "Effects and Mechanisms of Phthalates’ Action on Reproductive Processes and Reproductive Health: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-37, September.
    2. Kaitlin R. Taibl & Anne L. Dunlop & Dana Boyd Barr & Yuan-Yuan Li & Stephanie M. Eick & Kurunthachalam Kannan & P. Barry Ryan & Madison Schroder & Blake Rushing & Timothy Fennell & Che-Jung Chang & Yo, 2023. "Newborn metabolomic signatures of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure and reduced length of gestation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Annette M. Krais & Christina Andersen & Axel C. Eriksson & Eskil Johnsson & Jörn Nielsen & Joakim Pagels & Anders Gudmundsson & Christian H. Lindh & Aneta Wierzbicka, 2018. "Excretion of Urinary Metabolites of the Phthalate Esters DEP and DEHP in 16 Volunteers after Inhalation and Dermal Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.
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