Exposure to common chemical while pregnant could damage baby's brain, study suggests
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Scientists are sounding the alarm over a hidden danger lurking in your home that could affect your unborn baby's brain.
Common chemicals called phthalates are used in everything from food packaging to kids toys and shampoos.
But these can leach out of products and pass into food and water and then the mother's bloodstream, from where they may cross the placenta to the baby.
A study from Emory University now warns that exposure to these chemicals in the womb can scramble hormones and disrupt neurotransmitters in the brain.
Tests show that babies exposed to higher levels in the womb have lower attention spans, meaning they have less focus and slower reaction times.
Dr Donghai Liang, a public health scientist, said: 'We conducted this study because phthalates are everywhere in our daily lives, hence their nickname "everywhere chemicals".
'This represents an important step forward in understanding how prenatal chemical exposures shape infant development at the molecular level.'
Results showed that higher prenatal phthalate levels in the mother's urine were associated with lower levels of tyrosine, an amino acid that males the hormone thyroxine, which is involved in brain and bone developmen
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible, as well as to lubricate surfaces and carry fragrances in deodorant and perfumes.
But over time the chemicals, which are extremely hard to breakdown, can build up in the environment and infiltrate the food and water supply.
They may also come off packaging and be absorbed by food, particularly when the product is heated.
Scientists have already warned the chemicals could warp hormones and lower fertility among adults — as well as raise the risk of obesity and diabetes.
In the new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists sought to investigate the impact the chemicals have on babies in the womb.
They analyzed data from mother-newborn pairs enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort between 2016 and 2018.
In the first visit, 216 mothers who were at between eight and 14 weeks gestation had their urine tested for phthlalte-linked substances. And in a second visit, 145 mothers between 24 to 30 weeks gestation had their urine tested.
Blood samples were also collected from babies within two days of birth via a heel stick — where a small wound is made in a baby's heel and blood is collected by gently squeezing.
Mothers in the study were 24 years old on average and had phthalate levels in their blood that were higher than average.
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible, as well as to lubricate surfaces
Results showed that higher prenatal phthalate levels in the mother's urine were associated with lower levels of tyrosine, an amino acid that males the hormone thyroxine, which is involved in brain and bone development.
It was also linked to lower levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is used to make serotonin, a hormone involved in communication between nerve cells.
Low serotonin has previously been linked to low mood, and problems with sleep, learning, memory, digestion and the body's response to stress.
Tests on attention span showed that those exposed to high levels of phthalates in the womb were more likely to have lower scores for their attention and excitability.
Limitations of the study included a lack of information on participants' diets or whether the births were vaginal or C-section, which can influence phthalate exposure.
Overall, 10 percent of participants reported using alcohol while pregnant, while 15 percent reported using tobacco and 40 percent reported using marijuana, which can also affect a baby's brain development.
Daily Mail
