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Fulltext 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, Kile ML, Hystad P, Diamond ML, Mandhane PJ, Moraes TJ, et al.

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol, 2026 Mar;36(2):322-333.
PMID: 41203828 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-025-00821-y

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.
Fulltext Conflicts of Interest in the Assessment of Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution

Schäffer A, Groh KJ, Sigmund G, Azoulay D, Backhaus T, Bertram MG, et al.

Environ Sci Technol, 2023 Dec 05;57(48):19066-19077.
PMID: 37943968 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04213

Pollution by chemicals and waste impacts human and ecosystem health on regional, national, and global scales, resulting, together with climate change and biodiversity loss, in a triple planetary crisis. Consequently, in 2022, countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental science-policy panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention, complementary to the existing intergovernmental science-policy bodies on climate change and biodiversity. To ensure the SPP's success, it is imperative to protect it from conflicts of interest (COI). Here, we (i) define and review the implications of COI, and its relevance for the management of chemicals, waste, and pollution; (ii) summarize established tactics to manufacture doubt in favor of vested interests, i.e., to counter scientific evidence and/or to promote misleading narratives favorable to financial interests; and (iii) illustrate these with selected examples. This analysis leads to a review of arguments for and against chemical industry representation in the SPP's work. We further (iv) rebut an assertion voiced by some that the chemical industry should be directly involved in the panel's work because it possesses data on chemicals essential for the panel's activities. Finally, (v) we present steps that should be taken to prevent the detrimental impacts of COI in the work of the SPP. In particular, we propose to include an independent auditor's role in the SPP to ensure that participation and processes follow clear COI rules. Among others, the auditor should evaluate the content of the assessments produced to ensure unbiased representation of information that underpins the SPP's activities.

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