Prenatal exposure to phthalates raises risk of childhood asthma
A team of scientists from the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University released a new study linking prenatal exposure to phthalates to a heightened risk of childhood asthma. The paper, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, adds to the growing list of potential health problems tied to exposure to these chemical compounds during pregnancy.
"Everyone from parents to policymakers is concerned by the steep rise in the number of children who develop asthma. Our goal is to try and uncover causes of this epidemic so we can better protect young children from this debilitating condition," Robin Whyatt, DrPH, first author of the study, said in a statement.
Developing babies are unprotected
Phthalates are virtually ubiquitous, found in items such as shower curtains, car dashboards, vinyl flooring, insect repellant and even plastic food containers. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, phthalates are also present in detergents and cosmetics. Previously, phthalates were found in children's toys, but after past research showed that exposure to phthalates could cause problems in the reproductive system, and that some of these compounds are actually carcinogenic, American toy manufacturers banned their use from production to protect children. However, less is known about whether phthalates can impact on the developing foetus.
The authors of the new study had previously shown that prenatal exposure to certain phthalates can raise the risk of eczema, while childhood exposure to bisphenol A may lead to asthma. To investigate whether prenatal exposure to phthalates can lead to childhood asthma, the researchers enrolled 300 pregnant women into their study. All subjects provided urine samples during their third trimester, as did the children they eventually gave birth to. The pediatric samples were collected when the subjects were 3, 5 and 7 years of age. The aim was to measure levels of metabolites associated with phthalates, and measure the prevalence of asthma among children ages 5 to 11 years.
Results showed that the highest levels of exposure to butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were linked to risk increases for childhood asthma of 72 percent and 78 percent, respectively. However, there were no such relationships found for di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP).
Although the researchers linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to childhood asthma, they could not determine what products or activities were associated with the greatest level of exposure, or how these chemical compounds drove the development of the disease. They speculated that the mechanism of action is inflammation and oxidative stress.
What is the asthma burden in the U.S.?
The American Lung Association estimated that nearly 27 million people in the U.S., including 7 million children, are living with asthma. According to the organization, asthma is likely attributable to a combination of factors, including genetics, allergies and respiratory infections during early childhood. Although the characteristic asthma flares that make it difficult to breathe are treatable with medication, health experts emphasize the importance of avoiding the irritants that trigger such flares, including smoke, car exhaust, dust, fragrances, and workplace and household chemicals.
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Susan Massie, Sales & Marketing Director, Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals Email: sue@greyhoundchrom.com
Susan Massie is the Sales & Marketing Director for Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals, affectionately known as 'Greyhound' in our scientific community. Greyhound was founded by Susan's husband Paul Massie more than 40 years ago, Susan hasn't been in the business for all of that time but has been involved with Greyhound for over 17 years. Greyhound continues to grow, expanding into new markets and taking on the challenges of our ever changing environment. It's heartwarming to witness the world waking up to the fact that we are damaging our planet on a daily basis. Every action we take has a direct effect on our planet and the world we leave behind for future generations. Susan is passionate about climate change and is happy to work in an industry that can have a direct effect on reducing the impact of our actions on the environment. All of the team at Greyhound take our responsibilities very seriously, the products that we supply are used by the world's leading scientists and chemists as they endeavour to monitor and repair the environment. All is not lost, if we all take responsibility for our actions, from reducing our waste and reusing or recycling our material collateral we can make a difference. The internet is full of useful advice and guidance, Susan is proud to contribute to that wealth of knowledge whenever she can.
Greyhound prides itself on personal service which provides prompt, efficient, cost-effective, safe delivery of all products. Greyhound provides technical advice and distribution of Certified Reference Standards and Materials, Laboratory Consumables, Solvents and Reagents across all scientific disciplines. Greyhound Chromatography offers over 1 Million products from its UK warehouse. The team at Greyhound are proud to support the work of the world's leading scientists and chemists as they challenge the abuse of our planet and try to make a difference to the world we leave behind for our ancestors.
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