BACKGROUND:

There is increasing evidence that exposure to a number of chemicals commonly found in personal care products, food, drinking water and other sources may adversely impact child development through altered endocrine function. Anogenital distance (AGD) - the distance from the anus to the genitals - is an androgen responsive anatomic measurement. Studies have shown that prenatal phthalate and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) exposure, shortens male AGD in rodents and increases the rate of cryptorchidism in males. This is the first study conducted in Israel to investigate this marker in newborns.

METHODS and preliminary results:

295 mother-infant pairs were recruited from the delivery room at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center (n=226) and the Dana Childrens` Hospital (n=69) during 2013-2015. AGD was measured at birth: In males (n=148), mean anoscrotal distance was 23.87±4.08 mm (10.4-34.4 mm), mean anopenile distance was 45.01±4.83 mm (26.8-61.2 mm). In females (n=147), mean anofourchette distance was 14.43±3.09 mm (8-34.4 mm) and mean anoclitoral distance was 34.66±3.51 mm (25.5-44.6 mm).

Maternal blood, maternal urine, cord blood, breastmilk and meconium were collected from all mother-infant pairs. Each mother filled in a questionnaire to obtain data on potential sources of phthalate and BFRs exposure.

Within the following weeks BFRs` concentrations in cord blood, breastmilk and meconium will be measured to investigate their association with AGD in newborns.

Phthalate concentrations in maternal urine will be measured in the following months.

This data may reveal whether environmental exposure to phthalates and BFRs can adversely affect male genital development in Israeli newborns.