| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 環境衛生研究所 === 93 === Nonylphenol (NP), an important representative of the alkylphenols (APs), was reported to have estrogenicity. It has been linked to infertility and birth defects. From previous studies, it is common to detect evidence of APs among people in Taiwan from their sample of blood. The question arises whether the APs that are circulating in the expectant mother′ s body will pass through the placenta and elicit possible estrogenic effects on developing fetuses. Thus, this study examines cord blood samples to explore the prenatal exposure levels of APs. Moreover the goal of comparison between maternal and cord blood is to explore the protection of the placental barrier against APs exposure.
Among the cord blood, fifty samples from a hospital in north Taiwan and one hundred and twenty-four samples were from a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Forty-two samples of cord blood and maternal blood are obtained in central Taiwan. Plasma from the samples are obtained via centrifugation, cleaned using the SPE cartridge and they are then analyzed by HPLC/fluorenscene detector. NP, 4-t-octylphenol (OP), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) are tested and identified.
Among the cord blood collected in north Taiwan, 86.0% and 64.0% of 4-NP, DTBP are detectable. Their mean and standard deviation of concentrations are 48.1±42.8ng/g and 13.7±16.4ng/g; in central Taiwan, 33.1% and 27.4% of 4-NP, DTBP are detectable. Their mean and standard deviation of concentrations are 21.5±45.9ng/g and 11.9±35.5ng/g. Significantly higher levels were found in north Taiwan samples compared to those in central Taiwan samples. Among the maternal venous plasma and cord plasma, 52.4% and 38.1% of 4-NP, DTBP are detectable in the maternal blood. Their mean and standard deviation of concentrations are 34.1±58.0 ng/g and 22.7±44.5 ng/g ; 52.4% and 40.4% of 4-NP, DTBP are detectable in the cord blood. Their mean and standard deviation of concentrations are 15.8±25.0 ng/g and 13.9±26.2 ng/g.
This study demonstrates that pregnant women exposed to APs will transfer them to fetus via the placenta. The possibility of estrogenic effects on developing fetuses deserves further study.
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