A team of scientists has warned of a hidden danger lurking in our homes that threatens the brain health of fetuses.
Common chemicals called phthalates are used in many everyday products such as food wrappers, children's toys, and shampoo. They are also used to make plastics softer, lubricate surfaces, and in products such as deodorants and perfumes. Over time, these chemicals accumulate in the environment and pass into food and water, from which they enter the mother's bloodstream, where they can cross the placenta and affect the fetus.
A new study conducted by Emory University warns of the impact of phthalates on fetal hormones and the activation of neurotransmitters in the brain.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from 216 mothers in early pregnancy and 145 mothers in late pregnancy from the Atlanta Study of African American Mothers and Children. Urine samples were tested for phthalates, and blood samples were collected from the infants after birth.
The results showed that higher levels of phthalates in maternal urine before birth were associated with lower levels of tyrosine, an amino acid that influences the hormone thyroxine, which plays a role in brain and bone development. It was also associated with lower levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is responsible for the production of serotonin, which influences communication between nerve cells. Previous research has shown that low serotonin is linked to problems with mood, sleep, learning, and memory.
Attention tests showed that children exposed to high levels of phthalates in the womb had less concentration and slower reaction times.
However, the researchers noted some limitations of the study, such as the lack of accurate information about the participants' diet or type of delivery, which may have affected fetal exposure to phthalates.
Study participants reported that 10% of them consumed alcohol during pregnancy, 15% used tobacco, and 40% used marijuana, which may have an additional impact on children's brain development.
"We conducted this study because phthalates are ubiquitous in our daily lives, hence their nickname 'ubiquitous chemicals,'" said public health scientist Dr. Donghai Liang. "It's important to understand how these prenatal chemicals affect brain development at the molecular level."
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.