Dietary intake and phthalates body burden in boys and girls

BACKGROUND Phthalates are a group of environmental endocrine disruptors and have been ubiquitously applied in industrial field. Few studies had investigated how dietary intake was related with phthalate body burden in children. To determine the relationship between phthalate body burden and dietary intake among school age children in Shanghai, China. METHODS Four hundred and thirty schoolchildren aged 8-16 years were recruited in a cross-sectional study with 18 months follow-up in Shanghai, China during 2010-2012. Data of questionnaire-based dietary intake were collected and urinary phthalate concentrations were measured. Associations between frequency of dietary intake and phthalate metabolite concentrations were evaluated by stepwise multiple linear regression model. RESULTS Positive association was found between mono-butyl phthalate and seafood, and negative associations were found between mono-butyl phthalate and dried fruits and vegetables. Egg consumption showed negative association with all di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-related metabolites. CONCLUSIONS Some food types were identified to be associated with phthalate body burden and diet might be a source of phthalate exposure among Chinese schoolchildren.