Scientists at Columbus University's School of Public Health at Mailman have for the first time found a link between the intrauterine exposure of phthalates found in common household products and the increased risk of asthma in children.
The results of this study were presented in a recent issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
As the research team of Dr. Rachel Miller (Rachel Miller) states, previous work has convincingly proved that the impact in childhood of phthalates used in plastics, cosmetics and household chemicals, increases the risk of asthma in the future.
But until today there was nothing known about the effect of phthalates in the period of intrauterine development. The last work fills this gap.
Phthalates increase the risk of asthma by more than 70%.
The team analyzed a group of 300 women with children who participated in the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health Study. Women were included in the study from 1998 to 2006, when they were pregnant.
The level of exposure of four phthalates was measured by the content of metabolites in the urine, tests were taken in the third trimester of pregnancy. At the child the maintenance of these substances checked at the age of 3, 5 and 7 years.
Almost 30% (94) of children diagnosed with asthma at the age of 5-11, while 60 other children had asthma-like symptoms, but they did not have asthma. The researchers concluded that exposure to butylbenzyl phthalate during pregnancy increases the risk of asthma by 72%, and the effect of di-n-butyl phthalate - by as much as 78% compared to those children whose mothers were not exposed to these substances.
Scientists also found a link between prenatal exposure to di-n-butylphthalate and asthma-like symptoms. Substances such as di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate were associated with asthma-like symptoms, but not with the diagnosis of asthma.
Commenting on the findings, lead author Robin Whyatt said: "Each of us, from parents to legislators, should be concerned about the increase in the incidence of asthma in children. Our goal is to identify the causes of this epidemic so that we can better protect our children from this disease. This study provides us with evidence that phthalates are a risk factor for asthma ".
If we want to protect children, we need to protect pregnant women.
Phthalates are widely used in the manufacture of household products, perfumes, repellents, plastic containers for food, cosmetics, shower curtains, car decoration (it is connected with the familiar smell of the new machine), etc..
In the United States, six phthalates, including butyl benzyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate, were banned for use in children's toys and other products for children back in 2009. But, taking into account the widest distribution of phthalates at work and at home, it becomes obvious that it is impossible to completely avoid contact with these toxins to modern people.
Dr. Miller says that pregnant women need to be extra careful: "The fruit is extremely vulnerable to external influences. Although it is natural for a mother to protect her child from all dangers, they are practically helpless when it comes to the omnipresent phthalates.
If we want to protect children, we must first protect the pregnant ".
In 2012, a team of scientists confirmed that the intrauterine effect of diethyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate is associated with a high risk of inflammation of the respiratory tract, and the intrauterine effect of butylbenzyl phthalate may make the child prone to eczema. Another study published by Medical News Today last year showed that a toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) increases the risk of asthma.
medbe. en.