In utero phthalate exposure and childhood asthma and lung function development: an individual participant data meta-analysis in 6 European birth cohorts

Despite extensive research and after the meta-analysis on bisphenols, the role of phthalate exposure during pregnancy in respiratory outcomes, as well as the vulnerable periods of organ development and the effects on different age groups in childhood and adolescence, remains limited. To address this, our study aims to investigate the associations between in utero exposure to phthalates and respiratory health outcomes, including wheezing, current asthma, and lung function from childhood into adolescence. We will also assess the mixture effect and explore potential effect modifications by sex, parental atopy, and the potential protective role of folic acid supplementation.