Prenatal exposure to synthetic phenols assessed in multiple urine samples and dysregulation of steroid hormone homeostasis in two European cohorts

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some synthetic phenols alter hormonal pathways involved in successful pregnancy and fetal development. Despite high within-subject temporal variability of phenols, previous studies mostly utilized spot urine samples to assess pregnancy exposure. Herein we investigated associations between pregnancy exposure to eight phenols assessed in multiple pooled urine samples and steroid hormones assessed in maternal hair reflecting cumulative hormone levels over the previous weeks to months.

METHODS: We assessed phenol-hormone associations in 928 pregnant women from two pooled cohorts recruited in Spain (BiSC, 2018-2021) and France (SEPAGES, 2014-2017), using pools of up to 21 samples each, collected in early pregnancy (median gestational age: 18.0 weeks), as well as hair collected in late pregnancy (BiSC) or at birth (SEPAGES). We measured two bisphenols, four parabens, benzophenone-3, and triclosan along with metabolites of three adrenal (Σcortisol, Σcortisone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone) and two reproductive hormones (progesterone, testosterone). We ran adjusted linear regressions for each exposure-outcome pair and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression for phenols mixture.

RESULTS: Bisphenol S was associated with higher cortisol and 11-dehydrocorticosterone concentrations. Propylparaben was associated with lower levels of cortisol, cortisone, and 11-dehydrocorticosterone, while methylparaben was linked to a reduction in cortisol levels. Interestingly, associations identified for parabens were stronger for women carrying female fetuses. No associations for phenols mixture were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that pregnancy exposure to bisphenol S and some parabens (propyl- and methylparaben) may affect production of maternal corticosteroid hormones that are important for a successful pregnancy and fetal development.