# Prenatal exposure to phthalates and associations with gestational weight gain and fetal growth trajectories.

> **NIH NIH F31** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $44,192

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Widespread exposure to ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as phthalates, during pregnancy, a
sensitive period in the life course for both mother and baby, is of global concern. Phthalates and their
metabolites (PMs) are associated with increased oxidative stress, hormonal disturbances and epigenetic
changes that may interfere with maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) and fetal growth patterns. Maternal
GWG and fetal growth rates are important as they influence both short and long-term health outcomes of the
mother and baby. Further, pregnancy related racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy outcomes have
persisted over time and environmental exposures may contribute to these. Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic and
Asian women have higher concentrations of PMs likely due to the use of specific personal care products.
Although several studies have evaluated PM’s effect on birthweight (the end point of fetal growth) or on periods
of GWG, few have considered associations between PMs and fetal growth and GWG rates and those that
have are subject to methodological limitations. In addition, there is scarcity of evidence regarding associations
between mixtures of PMs and adverse health outcomes. Using data from a nested case control study in a
racially diverse population (Nulliparous Mothers To Be (nuMoM2b)), and specifically among healthy controls,
we will explore associations between PMs and GWG and fetal growth trajectories using sophisticated statistical
methods (i.e., growth mixture models, generalized estimating equations and weighted quantile sum regression)
which account for multiple measures of both exposures and outcomes, and account for PM mixtures. We
propose the following aims: 1) to examine associations between prenatal exposure to PMs (and their
mixtures), measured in each pregnancy trimester and a) GWG and b) estimated fetal growth trajectories
among 960 healthy pregnant women across the United States; 2) to evaluate modification by race/ethnicity and
fetal-sex between PMs and GWG and fetal growth. This will be the first study to evaluate the effect of a
ubiquitous environmental exposure on GWG and fetal growth trajectories. Findings from the proposed study
are important to identify critical windows of gestation when maternal GWG and fetal growth may be more be
more sensitive to insults from PMs. Importantly, this will aid the design of interventions to reduce phthalate
exposure levels, inform policies to regulate phthalate concentrations in products, and educate and target
women at greatest risk of exposure. Execution of these specific aims will advance NIEHS’s mission to
understand the impact of a ubiquitous environmental exposure, phthalates, on salient maternal fetal outcomes.
The proposed training plan will be delivered within Columbia University, one of the world’s preeminent
research universities, providing skills in environmental exposures including mixtures analysis, maternal child
health and a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10923843
- **Project number:** 5F31ES034972-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Shabnaz Siddiq
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $44,192
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2025-06-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10923843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10923843, Prenatal exposure to phthalates and associations with gestational weight gain and fetal growth trajectories. (5F31ES034972-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10923843. Licensed CC0.

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