Grants and Fellowships | 2014

29 Impact of Exposure to Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) and Phthalates on Birth Outcomes in an Israeli Cohort Hypothesis: (1) Israeli pregnant women and their infants are widely exposed to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and phthalates. (2) Exposure to these compounds is associated with adverse birth outcomes. Background: BFRs and phthalates are used in many household and personal care products. Objectives: (1) To assess BFRs and phthalates body burdens through measurement of these chemicals in maternal serum, urine and cord blood among several representative sub-populations. (2) To examine associations between exposure to BFRs and phthalates and (a) pregnancy complications, (b) anthropometrics at birth, (c) genital malformations and (d) maternal and infant thyroid function, sex steroids and corticosteroids. (3) To establish a bio-repository of these and other media (meconium, breast milk, father blood and urine) for future studies and to establish follow up methods for this cohort to later assess development and growth. Justification: There are no published data on population exposure to BFRs in Israel. Data on phthalate exposure in Israeli pregnant women is limited. More data are required to characterize the health effects of these chemicals among pregnant women and children. Experimental Methodology: 500 mother-child pairs will be recruited in Assaf Harofeh and Sourasky Medical Centers representing all sub-populations in Israel. Maternal blood and cord blood samples will be analyzed for BFRs and maternal urine samples will be analyzed for phthalates. Mothers will fill out a standardized questionnaire regarding life style factors, demographic information, and use of BFR and phthalate containing products. Anthropometrics will be recorded. Maternal and infant thyroid function, sex steroids and corticosteroids will be measured. The chemical analysis will be performed at the National Residue Control Laboratory. Quality control will be done with an international laboratory. Expected contribution to environmental health in Israel: This study will provide important information on exposure during pregnancy, and will provide insights into the bioaccumulative nature of these chemicals. Such novel knowledge might provide insight regarding exposure sources unique to the Israeli general population and to sub-populations. This knowledge is essential for the general public, health professionals, scientists and policy/law regulators to base their understandings and recommendations for the future. This study will add to the growing body of international literature on exposure and health effects of environmental contaminants. Matitiahu Berkovitch 1 Dror Mandel 2 Pam Factor-Litvak 3 Joseph Tobvin 1 Tamar Berman 4 Malka Britzi 5 Stefan Soback 5 Amalia Levy 6 Ronit Lubetzky 2 1. Assaf Harofeh Medical Center 2. Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center 3. Columbia University, USA 4. Israel Ministry of Health 5. Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 6. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 2012- Multi-Year Research Grants