Environment/Climate Change
Gestational Urinary Organophosphate Ether (OPE) Concentrations and Sleep Patterns in Children Kelli Williams* Kelli Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Williams Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used replacement flame retardants and plasticizers. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children; yet their effects on sleep remain unclear. OPEs are detected in nearly all U.S. adults, including women of reproductive age. We evaluated associations of gestational OPE concentrations with child sleep patterns in 277 mother–child dyads from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study. We calculated area under the curve (AUC) exposure metrics using specific-gravity urinary OPE biomarkers measured at 16 and 26 weeks’ gestation and at birth, including BCEP (GM ± GSD: 0.77±3.18 μg/L), BDCIPP (0.85±2.55), DNBP (0.24±1.99), and DPHP (1.95±2.24). We assessed child sleep outcomes from ages 2 to 8 years using an adapted Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire measuring sleep irregularity, hypersomnolence, sleep disruption, and sleep duration (minutes). Longitudinal associations between AUC urinary OPE concentrations and sleep outcomes were estimated using covariate-adjusted linear mixed-effects models. Visit-specific estimates were reported for OPE-by-visit interactions (p<0.10); otherwise, overall estimates were presented. A 10-fold increase in BCEP was associated with more sleep irregularity at age 8 years (β=0.24, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.46), while DNBP was associated with more sleep irregularity across all ages (0.19, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.42). A 10-fold increase in BDCIPP was associated with slightly longer sleep duration across all ages (14 m, 95% CI: -2.48, 30.66), and DPHP was associated with longer sleep duration at age 8 years (31 m, 95% CI: -1.24, 63.09). In contrast, BCEP was associated with shorter sleep duration across all ages (-15 m, 95% CI: -27.97, -1.20). No significant associations were observed for hypersomnolence or sleep disruption. These findings suggest that gestational OPE exposures are associated with important sleep disturbances in children.