Urinary Levels of Organophosphate Flame Retardants Metabolites in a Young Population from Southern Taiwan and Potential Health Effects

Overview

Journal Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2023 Jun 19

PMID 37334296

Authors

Feng-Shun Chen

Chih-Cheng Chen

Ching-Chang Tsai

Jian-He Lu

Huey-Ling You

Ching-Mei Chen

Wan-Ting Huang

Kai-Fan Tsai

Fu-Jen Cheng

Chia-Te Kung

Shau-Hsuan Li

Chin-Chou Wang

Yu-Che Ou

Wen-Chin Lee

Yu-Ting Chang

Fahimah Hashim

How-Ran Chao

Liang-Jen Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely distributed in the environment and their metabolites are observed in urine, but little is known regarding OPFRs in a broad-spectrum young population from newborns to those aged 18 years.

Objectives: Investigate urinary levels of OPFRs and OPFR metabolites in Taiwanese infants, young children, schoolchildren, and adolescents within the general population.

Methods: Different age groups of subjects (n=136) were recruited from southern Taiwan to detect 10 OPFR metabolites in urine samples. Associations between urinary OPFRs and their corresponding metabolites and potential health status were also examined.

Results: The mean level of urinary Σ OPFR in this broad-spectrum young population is 2.25 μg/L (standard deviation (SD) of 1.91 μg/L). Σ OPFR metabolites in urine are 3.25 ± 2.84, 3.06 ± 2.21, 1.75 ± 1.10, and 2.32 ± 2.29 μg/L in the age groups comprising of newborns, 1-5 year-olds, 6-10 year-olds, and 11-18 year-olds, respectively, and borderline significant differences were found in the different age groups (=0.125). The OPFR metabolites of TCEP, BCEP, DPHP, TBEP, DBEP, and BDCPP predominate in urine and comprise more than 90% of the total. TBEP was highly correlated with DBEP in this population (r=0.845, <0.001). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of ΣOPFRs (TDCPP, TCEP, TBEP, TNBP, and TPHP) was 2,230, 461, 130, and 184 ng/kg bw/day for newborns, 1-5 yr children, 6-10 yr children, and 11-17 yr adolescents, respectively. The EDI of ΣOPFRs for newborns was 4.83-17.2 times higher than the other age groups. Urinary OPFR metabolites are significantly correlated with birth length and chest circumference in newborns.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of urinary OPFR metabolite levels in a broad-spectrum young population. There tended to be higher exposure rates in both newborns and pre-schoolers, though little is known about their exposure levels or factors leading to exposure in the young population. Further studies should clarify the exposure levels and factor relationships.

Citing Articles

Association of joint exposure to organophosphorus flame retardants and phthalate acid esters with gestational diabetes mellitus: a nested case-control study.

Lang Q, Qin X, Yu X, Wei S, Wei J, Zhang M BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024; 24(1):736.

PMID: 39516746 PMC: 11549849. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06925-x.

Environmental exposures to organophosphorus flame retardants in early pregnancy and risks of gestational diabetes mellitus: a nested case-control study.

Lang Q, Sun J, Yu X, Wei S, Wei J, Zhang M Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):13752.

PMID: 38877153 PMC: 11178875. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64557-9.

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