By LISA HOWARD-UC DAVIS
The chemicals were also linked to higher birth weight, a concern for increased obesity risk.
The new research appears in Environmental Health Perspectives.
“The importance of this study lies in unraveling the potential impact of exposure to environmental chemicals during pregnancy on fetal development. Our findings guide our understanding of how these chemicals may be silently seeding lasting challenges for the health of the next generation,” says Jiwon Oh, first author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar in the public health sciences department in the division of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Davis.
In the mid-2000s, one class of chemicals, polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants, were gradually phased out of use due to concerns about their potential toxicity.
Organophosphate esters, or OPEs, gradually took their place. They are now widely used in foams found in furniture, baby products, electronics, textiles, and building materials to prevent fires and make plastics more flexible.
Because of their chemical structure, OPEs slowly degrade and become part of dust. Individuals are exposed to OPEs through their skin or when they ingest or inhale indoor dust.
The chemicals are frequently detected in urine samples from the US general population, including samples from pregnant people. For this study, the researchers wanted to determine what impact OPEs might have on fetal development during pregnancy.
The study included 6,646 mother-child pairs from 16 cohorts across the US from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcome (ECHO) study. The participants came from various regions and had diverse backgrounds.
The researchers measured nine OPE biomarkers in urine samples of pregnant people collected between 2007 and 2020, with most samples obtained during the second and third trimesters.
They assessed birth outcomes, including gestational age at birth and birth weight, primarily using medical records or parent reports.
The researchers found three of the nine OPEs were associated with increased risks of preterm birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), especially among female newborns. These included:
- dibutyl phosphate
- di-isobutyl phosphate
- bis(butoxyethyl) phosphate
Preterm births can put infants at risk of health issues, including breathing and feeding problems, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and vision and hearing problems.
Three other OPEs—bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, bis(2-methylphenyl) phosphate, and dipropyl phosphate—were linked to greater birth weight-for-gestational-age.
High birth weight is associated with childhood obesity, which increases the risk of health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“There were over 6,000 pregnancies included in this study, and with such a large study, we are very confident of our findings,” says Deborah Bennett, senior author of the study and a professor of environmental health in the public health sciences department.
“Policy options to reduce exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants should be considered.”
The researchers note that OPEs may affect thyroid hormone levels and cause inflammation and oxidative stress, which could play a role in the preterm births. OPEs are also endocrine disruptors, so they may contribute to abnormal placental development, and the impact may vary based on the sex of the fetus.
“Because OPEs are from building materials, textiles, electronics, and other products, consumers cannot choose products that do not contain OPEs,” Oh says. “Only policy changes and regulations can mitigate their exposure.”
Source: UC Davis
—
Previously Published on futurity.org with Creative Commons License
***
You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project
 Compliments Men Want to Hear More Often |
 Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It |
 The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex |
 ..A Man’s Kiss Tells You Everything |
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Log in if you wish to renew an existing subscription.
Username
First Name
Last Name
Password
Password Again
Choose your subscription level
- Yearly – $50.00 – 1 Year
- Monthly – $6.99 – 1 Month
Credit / Debit Card PayPal Choose Your Payment Method
Auto Renew
Subscribe to The Good Men Project Daily Newsletter By completing this registration form, you are also agreeing to our Terms of Service which can be found here.
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
Photo credit: unsplash
The post Exposure to Flame Retardants Tied To Premature Birth appeared first on The Good Men Project.
