UC Merced

Background: Di(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are common anthropogenic chemicals used to manufacture plastics. Humans are typically exposed to DEHP and BPA from industrial and consumer products, often by chemicals leaching into food and drinks. Exposures in health-care environments also occur from leaching into IV fluids, directly into blood, or other body fluids from plastic medical equipment. Exposure to DEHP and BPA raise health concerns because they are endocrine disruptors and have been linked to adverse health outcomes including poorer airway functioning, preterm birth, altered puberty timing, delayed mental and motor development, or cancer risk, among other outcomes. Newborns undergoing congenital heart defect (CHD) surgery are particularly vulnerable due to their young age and elevated exposures from medical products.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate potential health risks from BPA and DEHP exposure in 18 infants who underwent heart defect surgery. Methods: Specifically, 1) we applied a reverse-dosimetry method to estimate infant dose based on urinary BPA and DEHP metabolites concentrations postoperative, and 2) we then compared the exposure-doses to chronic reference doses. Results: The median hazard quotients for BPA were 0.28, with a maximum of 0.8 (SD =0.2) among the infants after heart defect surgery. The median hazard quotient for DEHP was 51.2 (SD=86.8), with a maximum of 353.4 among infants after heart defect surgery. Significance: Exposures of DEHP and BPA are likely to remain elevated as long as the infants are supported by medical interventions, which may last weeks depending on the length of recovery time required. We observed elevated postoperative exposure and potential health risks from DEHP and BPA in neonates undergoing cardiac operations that may have long-term impacts on child well-being.