Hospital-Based Phthalate Exposure in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates

High levels of exposure to certain plasticizers, specifically, phthalates and Bisphenol-A
(BPA) have been shown to affect intelligence and behavior in school-age children, as well as
to disrupt growth and some endocrine functions. Items used in the care of infants in the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) contain phthalates and BPA. Babies admitted for long
periods of time to the NICU, could be exposed to high levels of these potentially harmful
plastics. In this study, the investigators are interested in documenting duration and
sources of exposure to plasticizers during the NICU admission of infants born weighing less
than 1500 grams. The investigators will examine the association between NICU exposure to
plasticizers and performance on a neurological screening test that predicts future behavior,
growth after birth, and the presence of any thyroid dysfunction.

The investigators plan to enroll 50 neonates in our study. The investigators will catalog
all exposure to plasticizers during the infant's NICU admission and assign each baby a risk
level of exposure. The investigators will then test each infant's performance on a
neurological screening tool, measure growth from birth and assess whether or not each infant
has thyroid dysfunction and correlate each outcome with exposure risk level. The
investigators will also collect urine samples from each baby to store for possible future
analysis.

The investigators hypothesize that neonates with higher levels of exposure will demonstrate
worse performance on the neurological screening tool, poor growth, and abnormal thyroid
function.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Neonates born less than 1500 grams that are admitted to the Mount Sinai Hospital NICU

Exclusion Criteria:

- Chromosomal abnormality or other genetic disorder

- Diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

- Inborn error of metabolism

- Congenital renal disease