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Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in house dust and Child Behavior Checklist outcomes: A nested study in the Canadian CHILD Birth Cohort

Foster SA 1 , Kile ML 2 , Hystad P 2 , Diamond ML 3 , Mandhane PJ 4 , Moraes TJ 5 Show all authors , Pei J 4 , Scott JA 6 , Simons E 7 , Subbarao P 5 , Takaro TK 8 , Tamana SK 9 , Turvey SE 9 , Brook JR 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA. Fosters2@oregonstate.edu
  • 2 School of Nutrition and Public Health, College of Health, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
  • 3 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B1, Canada
  • 4 Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9, Canada
  • 5 Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Black Wing Room 1436, Toronto, ON, M5G 1×8, Canada
  • 6 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Sixth Floor, Toronto, ON, MST 3M7, Canada
  • 7 Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, 840 Sherbrook Street, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1S1, Canada
  • 8 Department of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, Burnaby, B.C, V5A 1S6, Canada
  • 9 Pediatric Immunology, The University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol, 2026 Mar;36(2):322-333.
PMID: 41203828 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-025-00821-y

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Organophosphate esters and plasticizers (OPEs) are used in consumer materials to meet flammability standards. Toxicological and epidemiological evidence suggests some OPEs are developmental neurotoxicants.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between OPE exposures as measured in house dust and emotional and behavioral problems in young children.

METHODS: We used data from the CHILD Cohort Study (n = 601), a prospective birth cohort recruited in 5 cities across Canada (2008-2012). OPEs were measured in house dust at 3-4 months postpartum, and parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which measures emotional and behavioral problems when their child was 5 years. We used logistic regression to examine associations between OPE Z-scores (individual and summed chlorinated [ΣOPECl] and non-chlorinated [ΣOPENCl]) and CBCL problem scale scores (borderline and clinical T-scores ≥60 and normal <60).

RESULTS: Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) showed strong, positive associations with CBCL Total and Externalizing scores at or above the clinical cutoff, meaning children with higher levels of TCEP in house dust postpartum had higher odds of developing clinically relevant behavioral problems in early childhood compared to children with lower levels (Total ORadj: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.87; Externalizing ORadj: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.85). Similarly, 4-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate, a Firemaster 550 component, had a strong, positive association with Internalizing scores (ORadj: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.51). We observed a weak association between ΣOPECl and Total scores (Odds Ratio [OR] adjusted: 1.14, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 0.97, 1.33) and null associations for ΣOPENCl. Associations were generally stronger among boys (ΣOPECl Total ORadj: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.68). Visual summary of this manuscript, created with Microsoft PowerPoint.

IMPACT: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are common aspects of our built environment and increasingly recognized as developmental neurotoxicants. Using data from a large Canadian birth cohort, we investigated associations between OPE exposures as measured in house dust postpartum and emotional and behavioral problems in children. We found that levels of two OPE compounds (tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and a component of Firemaster 550) were associated with increased odds of clinically relevant behavioral problems in early childhood. This important work underscores the urgent need for public health policies to limit the use of certain OPEs in consumer products to reduce children's exposure to harmful chemicals.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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