Phthalates and phenols are readily detected in human breast milk, but the contribution of breast milk feeding to an infant’s exposure to these chemicals is unknown. Among 248 mother-infant pairs in the HOME Study, we assessed breast milk consumption via maternal report and quantified concentrations of eight phthalate metabolites and three phenols (bisphenol A, triclosan, benzophenone-3) in infants’ urine at age 12 months. We estimated covariate-adjusted percent differences in phthalate metabolite and phenol concentrations by breast milk consumption. Seventy infants (28%) were fed some breast milk up to age 12 months. Urinary phenol concentrations were similar in infants who were or were not fed breast milk at 12 months. In contrast, urinary concentrations of monocarboxyisooctyl phthalate (MCOP) and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP) were 42% (95% CI:3, 97) and 24% (95% CI:-8, 62) higher among infants fed breast milk at 12 months, respectively. Moreover, MCOP and MCPP concentrations were related to the quantity of breast milk consumed in the prior month and 24 hours. In this cohort, we found evidence suggesting that breast milk consumption may be a source of exposure to some phthalates. Future studies should examine whether plastic feeding bottles or pumped milk is a potential exposure source among infants.
Henderson, Noelle Blanco,
"Is Breast Milk Consumption a Source of Non-Persistent Chemical Exposures in Infants?"
(2020).
Epidemiology Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://doi.org/10.26300/v631-tj27
