Babies born to mothers with exposure to everyday chemicals present in lotions and shampoos during pregnancy may be at high risk of developing allergic diseases such as asthma, according to a study.
Researchers at Kumamoto
University analysed data from over 3,500 mother-child pairs to find a potential
link between exposure to certain everyday chemicals during pregnancy and the
development of asthma in children.
The findings published in
the journal Environmental Pollution showed that exposure to high levels of
butylparaben -- a chemical commonly used in personal care products like lotions
and shampoos -- during early pregnancy was associated with a 1.54-fold increase
in the risk of asthma in children.
The study also showed
that boys born to mothers exposed to 4-nonylphenol -- a chemical found in some
cleaning products and plastics -- had 2.09 times higher odds of developing
asthma. However, no such association was observed in girls.
"These results
emphasise the need for careful evaluation of chemical exposure during
pregnancy," said Dr. Shohei Kuraoka from Kumamoto University.
"Understanding these
risks allows us to develop better guidelines to protect maternal and child
health," Kuraoka added.
The team researchers
measured 24 types of phenols in urine samples collected from pregnant women.
They then tracked the
health of their children until the age of four. The findings highlight the
importance of understanding how everyday chemical exposures might contribute to
respiratory and allergic conditions in children.
Some phenols, such as
nonylphenol, are known to be endocrine disruptors. Previous studies have shown
that exposure to them has contributed to the recent increase in allergic
diseases such as asthma.
While the study provides
groundbreaking insights, the researchers also acknowledge limitations, such as
not measuring phenol levels in children directly. They urged the need for
future studies to explore these mechanisms further and establish safe exposure
thresholds.
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