{"id":20949,"date":"2023-09-04T09:03:35","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T13:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/common-plastics-chemical-could-harm-boys-development-drugs-com-mednews\/"},"modified":"2023-09-04T13:58:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T17:58:41","slug":"common-plastics-chemical-could-harm-boys-development-drugs-com-mednews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/common-plastics-chemical-could-harm-boys-development-drugs-com-mednews\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Plastics Chemical Could Harm Boys’ Development – Drugs.com MedNews","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter<!—-><\/p>\n

MONDAY, Sept. 4, 2023 — Phthalates are commonly used in plastics, and researchers have now tied them to developmental issues in toddler boys who were exposed to the chemical in the womb.<\/p>\n

The new study<\/a> links the chemicals to emotional and behavioral development issues in 2-year-old boys who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur findings \u2026 underscore the potential impact of maternal exposure to phthalates on children’s emotional and behavioral development, particularly among boys,” said lead author Liron Cohen-Eliraz<\/a>, who conducted the research as part of her doctoral dissertation at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.<\/p>\n

“Our study adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the need for greater environmental awareness, and action to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy,\u201d she said in a university news release.<\/p>\n

These \u201ceverywhere plastic\u201d chemicals are used in vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, soap, shampoo and so much more. The United States<\/a> has largely banned import and sale of toys and childcare products containing phthalates. Several states have their own restrictions.<\/p>\n

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cross the placenta. When absorbed by the fetus, they can either mimic or block female hormones, or in males, suppress hormones involved in male sexual development.<\/p>\n

For this study, researchers recruited women who were 11 to 18 weeks’ pregnant. Their urine was analyzed for phthalate byproducts (DEHP, DiNP and MBzBP).<\/p>\n

The infants’ developmental and behavioral progress was assessed at age 2.<\/p>\n

Boys exposed to higher DEHP levels during the first trimester scored lower in measures of personal and social development. These are skills people use to interact and communicate with others.<\/p>\n

Toddler boys also scored higher on scales of emotional reactivity, anxiety and depression. They also had health issues that can be related to anxiety, the investigators found.<\/p>\n

No differences were seen in girls’ exposure to varied levels of DEHP during pregnancy, according to the report.<\/p>\n

The researchers said more study is needed to better understand the long-term implications of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on human health and development.<\/p>\n

The findings were published in the September issue of the journal NeuroToxicology<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Sources<\/h2>\n