Association of exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and children's behavior at a median age of 18 months

Eva J. Sugeng*, Marijke de Cock, Pim E.G. Leonards, Margot van de Bor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants (FRs) could have adverse effects on neurodevelopment in children. Some organophosphate (OPFRs) are used as alternatives for the phased-out decabromodiphenylether such as resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate (PBDPP) and bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate (BPA-BDPP). This study aims to investigate the relationship between indoor OPFR exposure and neurodevelopmental behavior in children. OPFRs were measured in house dust and hand wipes from 42 children, aged 8-16 months, from the LInking maternal Nutrition to Child health (LINC) study. At the median age of 18 months, the children's behavior was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist, using three composite behavior scales: externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and total problems. Linear regression analysis was performed, adjusting for maternal education and smoking by the partner. Children with higher BPA-BDPP, PBDPP, and tris(chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) house dust concentrations were found to have higher scores on the behavioral problems scales. A 10-fold increase in BPA-BDPP and PBDPP concentration was associated with a 4.1 and 2.6 point increase on the internalizing problems scale (respectively p=0.004 and p=0.042). Increased BPA-BDPP concentrations were associated with elevated scores on the externalizing problems scale and total behavioral problems scale (respectively 7.6 and 16 points increase per 10-fold BPA-BDPP concentration increase, p=0.015 and p=0.007). TCEP dust concentrations were associated with the externalizing problems scale (13 point increase per 10-fold TCEP concentration increase, p=0.043). This study showed the importance of investigating the health effects of exposure to organophosphate flame retardants. Further research on neurodevelopmental health effects of OPFR exposure is warranted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100077
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Advances
Volume5
Early online date12 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The present study is part of the EU-funded INFLAME project (Indoor Contamination with Flame Retardant Chemicals: Causes and Impacts) and the authors acknowledge the European Commission for funding the INFLAME project FP7 No 264600. We acknowledge Jacco Koekkoek, Martin van Velzen, Quinn Groenewoud, Bo de Jager, Denise Jenner, Esther Stelwagen, Babette Kuypers, Guyonne van Heijningen, Xilema Leunis, Marieke van Leijden, Maite Schroor, Sascha van der Vliet, Helci Deel, Rianne Wever and Max Bocxe for their efforts during sample analysis. Finally, we are thankful to the participants of the LINC study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021

Keywords

  • Alternative flame retardants
  • Child behavior checklist
  • Child environmental health
  • Neurodevelopment
  • Organophosphate flame retardants

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