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. 2017 Dec:189:574-580.
doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.037. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

Current-use flame retardants: Maternal exposure and neurodevelopment in children of the CHAMACOS cohort

Rosemary Castorina  1 , Asa Bradman  2 , Heather M Stapleton  3 , Craig Butt  3 , Dylan Avery  2 , Kim G Harley  2 , Robert B Gunier  2 , Nina Holland  2 , Brenda Eskenazi  2
Affiliations

Current-use flame retardants: Maternal exposure and neurodevelopment in children of the CHAMACOS cohort

Rosemary Castorina et al. Chemosphere. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Flame retardants are commonly used in consumer products found in U.S. households. Restrictions on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants have resulted in increased use of replacement chemicals, including Firemaster 550® (FM 550®) and organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs): tris(1,3- dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP); tris(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCIPP); tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP); and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP). Animal research suggests that PFRs may affect neurodevelopment through noncholinergic mechanisms similar to some organophosphate (OP) pesticides. Despite the widespread presence of these compounds in home environments, and their structural similarity to neurotoxic OP pesticides, understanding of human exposure and health effects of PFRs is limited. We measured four urinary PFR metabolites from pregnant women in the CHAMACOS birth cohort study (n = 310) and assessed neurodevelopment of their children at age 7. Metabolites of TDCIPP (BDCIPP: bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate) and TPHP (DPHP: diphenyl phosphate) were detected in >75% of urine samples, and isopropylphenyl phenyl phosphate (ip-PPP), a metabolite of one component of FM 550®, was detected in 72% of urine samples. We observed decreases of 2.9 points (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -6.3, 0.5) and 3.9 points (95% CI: -7.3,-0.5) in Full-Scale intelligence quotient and Working Memory, respectively, for each ten-fold increase in DPHP in adjusted regression models (n = 248). Decreases in Full-Scale IQ and Working Memory were greater in models of the molar sum of the PFR metabolites compared to the DPHP models. This is the first study to examine PFR and FM 550® exposures and potential neurodevelopmental outcomes in pregnant women and children. Additional research is warranted.

Keywords: Children; Exposure; FM 550(®); Flame retardants; Neurodevelopment; PFRs.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mean ± SE WISC-IV score per quintile of prenatal urinary PFR molar sum concentration and Working Memory. The medians (ranges) for ∑PFR quintiles (nmol/L) are as follows: first quintile, 2.8 (0.7–4.0); second, 5.1 (>4.0–6.1); third, 7.2 (>6.1–8.6); fourth, 10 (>8.6–14); and fifth, 24.2 (>14–220). Estimates were adjusted for maternal education, PPVT scores, CES-D scores, country of birth and prenatal urinary DAP metabolite levels; HOME z-score; language of WISC testing; child sex and age at assessment; and household poverty.
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