Phthalates linked to elevated asthma risk in children: Study

Scientists at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health at the Mailman School have claimed to have found that phthalates found in personal care products and plastic packaging are elevating asthma risk in children.

The report was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, which points to vulnerability of diethyl phthalate (DEP) and butylbenzyl phthalate (BbzP), reported cosmeticsdesign.com.

The research was conducted on 244 children aged between 5 to 9, and those who were exposed to these two chemicals had an elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation.

The report shed light on the fact that among the 244 children participating in the study, all had detectable levels of phthalates in their urine, though pointing out that there were wide variations in the amounts that were detected.

According to the study, DEP is widely used in a range of personal care and cosmetics products, particularly nail varnishes and fragrances, while BBzP is used in very little amounts in such formulations.

The study stated that children with breath inhalations were found to be having high levels of both phthalates which are linked with higher levels in nitric oxide, a biological marker of airway inflammation and often an initial stage of asthma.

The scientists claim that the study was the first that used exhaled nitric acid to test on phthalates exposure in children.

Harvard School of Public Health lead study author Allan Justsaid many factors contribute to childhood asthma, while the new study shows that exposure to phthalates may play a significant role.

Besides, phthalates are said to be absorbed by the body through ingestion and absorption by the skin, the scientists point out in their study that they believe inhalation of the chemicals is thought to be a crucial path of exposure for the two phthalates considered in the study.