Phthalate Exposure Alters Children's Behavior and Cognitive Function
Mary S. Wolff, Ph.D.
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
P01ES009584
Recent research from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine indicates that women with higher exposures to phthalates during pregnancy report more disruptive behaviors in their children. This report is published in Environmental Health Perspectives and included 188 children whose mothers enrolled in the New York Children's Environmental Health Study. It is the first to evaluate the neurobehavioral development of older children in relation to their in utero phthalate exposure.
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics and are found in wide variety of consumer items including bottles, cosmetics, shampoo, lotions, and vinyl flooring. At one time, most flexible plastic products had high levels of phthalate esters, but they are being phased-out of many products in the United States and Europe because of health concerns regarding endocrine disruption.
Ten phthalate metabolites were measured in the mothers' urine samples during the third trimester of pregnancy. When their children were 4-9 years old, the mothers were interviewed up to three times completing a standard questionnaire to assess their children's behavior and cognitive abilities.
The results demonstrate that prenatal exposure to a group of phthalates commonly found in personal care products was significantly associated with poorer scores for aggression, conduct, and emotional control. There were no differences between boys and girls in the study and the associations were stronger as the level of phthalate exposure rose; however, few children's scores fell in the range of clinical significance. The results suggest the need for further research on the possible relationships between phthalate exposures and neurodevelopment and behavior.
Citation: Engel SM, Miodovnik A, Canfield RL, Zhu C, Silva MJ, Calafat AM, Wolff MS. Prenatal Phthalate Exposure is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Jan 8.
▲ Up: Carbon Nanotubes Can Affect the Lining of the Lungs (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2009/carbon/index.cfm)
▼ Down: Asthma Symptoms in Children Associated with Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2010/acetaminophen/index.cfm)
