Research Shows Chemicals Found in Common Consumer Products May Pose Health Problems for Women and Children

Phthalates and bisphenol-A are hormone-mimicking chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. Phthalates are used for a wide range of purposes, from making plastic flexible to binding fragrance to personal care products. In addition, phthalates can be found in many children’s toys. Bisphenol-A is most commonly used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins found in printed circuit boards, paints, glues, and the lining of metal food and drink cans. Bisphenol-A can be found in most plastic baby bottles.

A recent study published by Environmental Health Perspectives, the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, indicates that normal exposure to phthalates can harm the genital development of unborn baby boys. In a study of fetuses exposed to phthalates in the womb, the researchers found a strong relationship between phthalates and changes in the size and anatomy of the genitalia of male babies and toddlers. The findings were based on tests of 85 mothers and their sons, averaging nearly 13 months of age, born in three U.S. cities, including Los Angeles. Mothers with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine late in their pregnancies had babies with a shorter anogenital distance (the span between the anus and penis that forms into the scrotum in males), smaller penises, and more instances of incompletely descended testicles. Click here to review this study.

Two studies recently published on bisphenol-A raise particular health concerns for women. One study published in the journal Endocrinology found that low doses of bisphenol-A could be a contributing factor to the development of breast cancer. The scientists exposed mouse fetuses to a daily dose of 250 nanograms per kilogram of their body weight, less than 1% the amount deemed safe for humans in the United States. The researchers found that low doses of bisphenol-A increase breast tissue development. Higher density breast tissue is a risk factor for cancer. One of the study’s authors, Dr. Ana Soto, indicated that the results lead her to believe that bisphenol-A likely increases the risk of breast cancer in humans. Click here to review this study.

Another study published in the journal Human Reproduction found that women with a history of miscarriages had higher levels of bisphenol-A in their bodies. The scientists examined patients who had suffered three or more consecutive miscarriages and compared the bisphenol-A levels of women who had subsequent successful pregnancies with women who miscarried again. The women who had miscarriages were found to have average bisphenol-A levels over three times higher than women who had successfully given birth. The scientists concluded that exposure to bisphenol-A is associated with recurrent miscarriage. Click here to review this study.