Exposure to Flame-retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy Linked to Differences in Child Growth Patterns

Posted on by Jodi Snare

Prenatal exposure to certain flame-retardant chemicals may be associated with differences in how children grow from early childhood through age 10, according to a recent ECHO Cohort study by Anne P. Starling, PhD,  and Jessie P. Buckley, PhD, of UNC Chapel Hill, and Deborah Bennett, PhD, of University of California, Davis.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plastic softeners in a variety of household and industrial products. Because these chemicals can be found in everyday environments, pregnant women are commonly exposed. While previous research has examined OPE exposure during pregnancy in relation to birth outcomes, less is known about whether prenatal exposure may be linked to children’s growth patterns beyond infancy.

To better understand these potential relationships, researchers measured nine chemical markers of OPE exposure in urine samples collected from pregnant participants. They then analyzed children’s weight and height measurements collected between ages 2 and 10 years and calculated body mass index (BMI). Using statistical models, the team examined whether prenatal OPE exposure was associated with differences in the rate of change in children’s weight, height, and BMI over time.

Researchers looked at 4,566 mother-child pairs from 14 ECHO Cohort Study Sites across the United States.

Key Takeaways :

  • Prenatal exposure to specific OPEs was associated with differences in child growth rates between ages 2 and 10.
  • Higher prenatal exposure to bis (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) was associated with faster increases in weight and height during early childhood (ages 2–5).
  • In mid-childhood (ages 6–10), higher prenatal exposure to diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) was associated with faster increases in BMI and weight.
  • Prenatal exposure to bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) was associated with slower growth across multiple periods.
  • Some associations differed by child sex and by maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index.

“This work increases our understanding of the potential long-term effects on child health from typical levels of exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy. The results may inform future guidance on the production and use of OPEs,” said Dr. Starling.

Additional research could help clarify the biological mechanisms involved and explore whether reducing exposure during pregnancy could support long-term child health.

This collaborative research, titled “Gestational exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and child growth in weight, height, and body mass index at age 2-10 years: the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program,” is published in Environmental Research.