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Background:

Fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenols might lead to fetal cardiovascular developmental adaptations and predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease in later life.

Objectives:

We examined the associations of maternal urinary bisphenol and phthalate concentrations in pregnancy with offspring carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility at the age of 10 y.

Methods:

In a population-based, prospective cohort study of 935 mother–child pairs, we measured maternal urinary phthalate and bisphenol concentrations at each trimester. Later, we measured child carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility in the children at age 10 y using ultrasound.

Results:

Maternal urinary average or trimester-specific phthalate concentrations were not associated with child carotid intima-media thickness at age 10 y. Higher maternal average concentrations of total bisphenol, especially bisphenol A, were associated with a lower carotid intima-media thickness [differences $-0.15$ standard deviation score and 95% confidence interval (CI): $-0.24$, $-0.09$ and $-0.13$ (95% CI: $-0.22$, $-0.04$) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in maternal urinary total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentration]. Trimester-specific analysis showed that higher maternal third-trimester total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentrations were associated with lower child carotid intima-media thickness [differences $-0.13$ (95% CI: $-0.22$, $-0.04$) and $-0.13$ (95% CI: $-0.22$, $-0.05$) per IQR increase in maternal urinary bisphenol concentration]. Maternal urinary bisphenol or phthalate concentrations were not associated with child carotid distensibility.

DISCUSSION:

In this large prospective cohort, higher maternal urinary bisphenols concentrations were associated with smaller childhood carotid intima-media thickness. Further studies are needed to replicate this association and to identify potential underlying mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10293