Impact of In Utero and Adolescent Phthalate Exposure on Sexual Maturation Progression

Phthalates are endocrine disrupting compounds commonly found in consumer products, exposure to which may influence reproductive maturation in adolescence. Differential effects from exposure in utero versus later in life are understudied. We examined sex-stratified longitudinal associations between the geometric mean of 3 trimester-specific spot urine phthalate measurements and sexual maturation at two points in adolescence (8-14, 9-18 years), as well as cross-sectional associations at 9-18 years. Sexual maturation was assessed using Tanner stages and menarche onset for girls (N=246) and Tanner stages and testicular volume for boys (N=226). Generalized estimating equations for correlated ordinal multinomial responses were used to model relationships between phthalates and odds of transitioning to the next Tanner stage, while generalized additive (GA) mixed models were used to assess the odds of menarche. Cross-sectional analyses employed GA models (female N=281; male N=264). Among girls, ME...