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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