Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study
Background: Phthalates are among the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptors. However, the effect of phthalates exposure on food allergies remains unclear. Objectives: This study examined the relationship between exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute and food se...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003484 |
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| author | Yiyun Zhang Lei Zhang Yan Chen Hua Feng Wei Zhou Lianglu Wang Di Wu Jingguang Li Yongning Wu |
| author_facet | Yiyun Zhang Lei Zhang Yan Chen Hua Feng Wei Zhou Lianglu Wang Di Wu Jingguang Li Yongning Wu |
| author_sort | Yiyun Zhang |
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| description | Background: Phthalates are among the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptors. However, the effect of phthalates exposure on food allergies remains unclear. Objectives: This study examined the relationship between exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute and food sensitization in children. Methods: A study was conducted including 198 children with self-reported food allergy and 202 healthy children. Specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) test and skin prick test were applied to evaluate the susceptibility to food sensitization. Urine samples were analyzed for 17 metabolites of phthalates and a phthalate substitute. Logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression models were used to examine the correlations between exposure and food sensitization. Bayesian benchmark dose models were established to calculate benchmark dose values for these metabolites. Results: In single compound models, mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl terephthalate (MEHHTP) was associated with increased sensitization to almond, crab, shrimp, and total foods, and mono-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl phthalate (MHiBP) was associated with positive skin prick tests for wheat, peanut, and blue mussel (all p < 0.05). Mixed exposure only increased susceptibility for total foods sensitization with higher levels of sIgE (Odds Ratio = 1.25, 95 % confidence intervals: 1.01–1.56, p = 0.04), and MEHHTP had the dominant contribution. Conclusion: Phthalates exposure is linked to a higher risk of food sensitization in children in China. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and the role of phthalate substitutes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f0e9bbfb32214eb281b11e3512e37525 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj-art-f0e9bbfb32214eb281b11e3512e375252025-08-20T03:30:49ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-07-0120110959710.1016/j.envint.2025.109597Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population studyYiyun Zhang0Lei Zhang1Yan Chen2Hua Feng3Wei Zhou4Lianglu Wang5Di Wu6Jingguang Li7Yongning Wu8School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Peking Union Medical College, Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaNHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China; Corresponding author at: Room 203, No.7 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China.NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, United KingdomSchool of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Peking Union Medical College, Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Peking Union Medical College, Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Corresponding author.Background: Phthalates are among the most ubiquitous environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptors. However, the effect of phthalates exposure on food allergies remains unclear. Objectives: This study examined the relationship between exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute and food sensitization in children. Methods: A study was conducted including 198 children with self-reported food allergy and 202 healthy children. Specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) test and skin prick test were applied to evaluate the susceptibility to food sensitization. Urine samples were analyzed for 17 metabolites of phthalates and a phthalate substitute. Logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression models were used to examine the correlations between exposure and food sensitization. Bayesian benchmark dose models were established to calculate benchmark dose values for these metabolites. Results: In single compound models, mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl terephthalate (MEHHTP) was associated with increased sensitization to almond, crab, shrimp, and total foods, and mono-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropyl phthalate (MHiBP) was associated with positive skin prick tests for wheat, peanut, and blue mussel (all p < 0.05). Mixed exposure only increased susceptibility for total foods sensitization with higher levels of sIgE (Odds Ratio = 1.25, 95 % confidence intervals: 1.01–1.56, p = 0.04), and MEHHTP had the dominant contribution. Conclusion: Phthalates exposure is linked to a higher risk of food sensitization in children in China. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and the role of phthalate substitutes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003484Phthalate and phthalate substitutesHuman urineFood sensitizationSpecific immunoglobulin E testSkin prick testChildren |
| spellingShingle | Yiyun Zhang Lei Zhang Yan Chen Hua Feng Wei Zhou Lianglu Wang Di Wu Jingguang Li Yongning Wu Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study Environment International Phthalate and phthalate substitutes Human urine Food sensitization Specific immunoglobulin E test Skin prick test Children |
| title | Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study |
| title_full | Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study |
| title_fullStr | Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study |
| title_short | Effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in China: evidence from a population study |
| title_sort | effects of exposure to phthalates and a phthalate substitute on food sensitization in children in china evidence from a population study |
| topic | Phthalate and phthalate substitutes Human urine Food sensitization Specific immunoglobulin E test Skin prick test Children |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003484 |
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