Urine levels of phthalate metabolites in newborns and pregnant women as a measure of Phthalate exposure during pregnancy

Objectives: Phthalatic acid esters, also known as phthalates, have been widely used as plasticizers and therefore became ubiquitous in the developed countries. Many studies have reported different biological consequences of phthalate exposure, e.g. reproductive and developmental toxicity due to their action as endrocrine disruptors. Therefore, phthalates are banned from products for babies and infants such as toys. 10 years ago, DEHP (lipophilic and characterized by long side chains) was the mainly used phthalate. Nowadays, new types of phthalates have also long but branched side chains, such as DiNP or DiDP. In…