Trimester-specific effects of maternal exposure to organophosphate flame retardants on offspring size at birth: A prospective cohort study in China

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are substantially applied as and plasticizers in consumer products. Although the embryonic developmental toxicity of OPFRs has been reported, human data limited critical windows susceptibility to exposure urgently need be identified. Here, we investigated trimester-specific associations between prenatal OPFR birth size for first time. The concentrations 15 metabolites tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate were repeatedly determined urine samples 213 pregnant women collected first, second, third trimesters Wuhan, China, anthropometric retrieved from medical records. In multiple informant models, urinary bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) (BDCIPP) bis(2-butoxyethyl) (BBOEP) trimester, 4-hydroxyphenyl-diphenyl (4-HO-DPHP) second diphenyl (DPHP) trimester negatively associated with weight, among which a significant difference exposure-effect relationships across three was observed BDCIPP. BBOEP correlated length varying effects. Our results suggest that certain may impair fetal growth, fetus is vulnerable BDCIPP trimester.