New study finds adverse effects of cosmetics during pregnancy

A study led by US-based SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s School of Public Health has established links between using personal care products such as cosmetics during pregnancy and its adverse impacts on newborns.

Jointly conducted by SUNY Downstate’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, the study stated that the antimicrobial compound triclocarban, which is mainly added to soaps, is associated with shorter gestational age at birth.

Another chemical commonly used in lotions and creams, propyl paraben is associated with decreased body length at birth.

However, long-term consequences of these chemicals are not clearly mentioned in the study.

SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences associate professor Dr Laura Geer said: "The study found a link between women with higher levels of butyl paraben, which is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics, and the following birth outcomes: shorter gestational age at birth, decreased birth weight, and increased odds of preterm birth."

The study presents evidence of potentially adverse impacts in humans, though wider follow-up studies are required to confirm the findings.

Dr Geer said: "Based on this new evidence, the safety of use of these chemicals in our consumer products should be reassessed."

SUNY Downstate noted that regulations requiring removal of triclosan from different consumer care products have been in place since last year in the European Union region.

The US Food and Drug Administration and US Environmental Protection Agency need to implement a broader regulatory action.

Furthermore, several US manufacturers have voluntarily come forward to remove triclosan from various hygiene-related products, while the state of Minnesota has passed a ban on use of triclosan in sanitising or hand and body cleaning products from next year.

Dr Geer added: "Our study provides further evidence of the importance of assessing the risks of having these additional chemicals in our consumer products.

"While small-scale changes in birth size may not be of clinical relevance or cause for concern in individual cases, subtle shifts in birth size or timing at the population-level would have major impacts on the risk for adverse birth outcomes."

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Image: Propyl paraben, a chemical commonly used in lotions and creams, is associated with decreased body length at birth. Photo: courtesy of adamr/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.