• Kimberly Berger, Brenda Eskenazi, John Balmes, Nina Holland, Antonia M Calafat, and Kim G Harley.
• Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
• Environ Int. 2018 Dec 1; 121 (Pt 1): 538-549.

BackgroundPersonal care product chemicals may be contributing to risk for asthma and other atopic illnesses. The existing literature is conflicting, and many studies do not control for multiple chemical exposures.MethodsWe quantified concentrations of three phthalate metabolites, three parabens, and four other phenols in urine collected twice during pregnancy from 392 women. We measured T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells in their children's blood at ages two, five, and seven, and assessed probable asthma, aeroallergies, eczema, and lung function at age seven. We conducted linear and logistic regressions, controlling for additional biomarkers measured in this population as selected by Bayesian Model Averaging.ResultsThe majority of comparisons showed null associations. Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) was associated with higher Th2% (RR: 10.40, 95% CI: 3.37, 17.92), and methyl paraben was associated with lower Th1% (RR: -3.35, 95% CI: -6.58, -0.02) and Th2% at borderline significance (RR: -4.45, 95% CI: -8.77, 0.08). Monoethyl phthalate was associated with lower forced expiratory flow from 25 to 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75%) (RR: -3.22 L/s, 95% CI: -6.02, -0.34). Propyl paraben (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.99) was associated with decreased odds of probable asthma.ConclusionsWhile some biomarkers, particularly those from low molecular weight phthalates, were associated with an atopic cytokine profile and poorer lung function, no biomarkers were associated with a corresponding increase in atopic disease.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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