RT Journal Article
T1 Ultrasound gel as an unrecognized source of exposure to phthalates and phenols among pregnant women undergoing routine scan.
A1 Messerlian, Carmen
A1 Mustieles, Vicente
A1 Wylie, Blair J
A1 Ford, Jennifer B
A1 Keller, Myra
A1 Ye, Xiaoyun
A1 Calafat, Antonia M
A1 Williams, Paige L
A1 Hauser, Russ
K1 Obstetric ultrasound
K1 Parabens
K1 Phenols
K1 Phthalates
K1 Trans-dermal absorption
AB Systemic absorption of phthalates and parabens has been demonstrated after dermal application of body lotion, and medical devices such as intravenous bags and tubing have been identified as a source of exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). However, use of products during medical procedures such as aqueous gel applied during obstetrical ultrasound in pregnancy has not been investigated as a potential source of endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure. Human studies have associated EDCs with various adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need to identify sources of inadvertent exposure to EDCs especially during vulnerable developmental periods such as pregnancy. We conducted a pilot study to determine whether use of gel during routine obstetrical ultrasound increased urinary concentrations of phthalate and phenol biomarkers. We recruited 13 women from the Massachusetts General Hospital who provided spot urine samples at the time of their second trimester anatomic survey. The first sample was collected prior to the procedure (pre-exposure, time 1), and two additional samples were obtained at approximately 1-2h (time 2) and 7-12h (time 3) post-exposure following the scan. Urinary concentrations of several DEHP metabolites and metabolite of diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) increased across time. For example, the geometric mean concentrations of mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate increased from 3.1ng/ml to 7.1ng/ml (p-value=0.03) between time 1 and time 3. We also observed significant differences in concentrations of metabolites of butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP). For example, mono-n-butyl phthalate (metabolite of DnBP) decreased from 3.5ng/ml to 1.8ng/ml (p-value=0.04) between time 1 and time 2, but then increased to 6.6ng/ml (p-value=0.002) at time 3. Propylparaben concentrations increased from 8.9ng/ml to 33.6ng/ml between time 1 and time 2 (p-value=0.005), followed by a decrease to 12.9ng/ml at time 3 (p-value=0.01). However, we cannot rule out the possibility that some of the observed differences are due to other sources of exposure to these compounds. While additional research is needed, this pilot study potentially identifies a previously unknown source of phthalate and paraben exposure among pregnant women undergoing routine ultrasound examination.
PB Elsevier GmbH
YR 2017
FD 2017-08-09
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/11528
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/11528
LA en
NO Messerlian C, Mustieles V, Wylie BJ, Ford JB, Keller M, Ye X, et al. Ultrasound gel as an unrecognized source of exposure to phthalates and phenols among pregnant women undergoing routine scan. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017 Nov;220(8):1285-1294.
NO Work supported by grants ES R01009718 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). BJW was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH K23 ES021471). CM was supported by a post-doctoral fellowship award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
DS RISalud
RD Apr 8, 2025