Prenatal Exposure to Mixtures of Nonpersistent Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Angiogenic Biomarkers, Placental Function, and Fetal Growth

TL;DR

This study explores how exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy affects fetal growth and placental function, finding that specific chemical mixtures may reduce or increase birthweight.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to assess the impact of nonpersistent endocrine-disrupting chemical mixtures on fetal growth and placental function using advanced statistical methods.

Findings

Low-molecular-weight phthalate mixtures were associated with decreased birthweight z-scores.

Organophosphate mixtures were linked to increased birthweight z-scores.

Angiogenic biomarkers partially mediated the relationship between chemical exposure and birthweight.

Abstract

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting
chemicals (EDCs) during
pregnancy
may influence the placenta and fetal growth; however, evidence is
scarce regarding EDC mixtures, newer chemicals, and the role of angiogenic
biomarkers and fetoplacental hemodynamics. We aimed to examine the
associations between nonpersistent EDC mixtures and fetal growth,
fetoplacental hemodynamics, and angiogenic biomarkers. We included
734 pregnant participants from the Barcelona Life Study Cohort (BiSC),
Spain (2018–2021). Metabolites of phthalates, DINCH, insecticides,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, flame retardants, and
parent compounds of phenols and parabens were measured in pools of
week-long maternal urine samples at 18 and 34 weeks’ gestation.
Penalized LASSO-type multigroup Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum Regression
estimated associations with fetal growth, fetoplacental hemodynamics,
and angiogenic biomarkers. Birthweight z-score decreased with low-molecular-weight
phthalate (LMWP) (β = −0.119; CrI −0.224, −0.008)
mixtures and increased with organophosphate mixtures (β = 0.143;
CrI 0.042, 0.245). LMWP exposure was also associated with altered
hemodynamics and angiogenic biomarkers; angiogenic biomarkers mediated
the relationship with birthweight z-score (ACME = −0.032; 95%
CI −0.062, −0.009; p = 0.002). This
comprehensive study suggests that mixtures of low-molecular-weight
phthalates and organophosphate compounds may alter fetal growth and
that angiogenic biomarkers may play a role as mediator.

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