Womb exposure to chemical toxins influences increased health risks for children aged 6 to 11.
Kids with European moms who were exposed to a specific group of four types of hormone-disrupting chemicals had higher rates of metabolic syndrome between the ages of 6 and 11. Metabolic syndrome encompasses conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol, and insulin resistance, which could potentially lead to type 2 diabetes.
In the group of children exposed to the highest levels of chemicals, 62% were overweight or obese, while only 16% of children in the low-risk group suffered from these conditions, said Nuria Güil-Oumrait, a Fulbright scholar at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Additionally, the high-risk group had significantly higher levels of blood insulin, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while their HDL cholesterol (considered a "good" blood fat) levels were lower.
Metabolic syndrome has long been associated with diseases related to adult cardiovascular systems, type 2 diabetes, and strokes. However, the growing rate of childhood obesity has led to the symptom appearing in children at increasingly younger ages. Having metabolic syndrome as a child significantly increases the likelihood of chronic health issues as an adult.
In a commentary accompanying the study, Vicente Mustieles, Mariana Fernández, and Carmen Messerlian of the Biomedical Research Center at the University of Granada, Spain, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, respectively, said:
"This research represents one of the most comprehensive investigations into the environmental origins of metabolic risks, adding to the substantial toxicological and epidemiological evidence in this area."
Representatives from the International Council for Chemical Associations could not be reached for comment before publication. However, a spokesperson for the American Chemistry Council stated:
"We will thoroughly review the details of this study when it is released. Our members strive to produce chemicals that provide essential safety, product performance, and resilience benefits while ensuring their safe use and disposal."
The research team behind this recent study examined the blood and urine of 1,134 pregnant women and conducted similar tests on their children between the ages of 6 and 11. They were looking for mixtures of nine classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly found in the environment.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are environmental contaminants that can pass through the placenta, disturbing biological functions and hormonal equilibrium.
These and other chemicals are transferred from mother to child through transplacental and breastfeeding pathways, leading to a persistent cycle of exposure. The study examined pesticides, heavy metals, flame retardants, plasticizers like phthalates and phenols, and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemicals that does not degrade, and are now found in surface and groundwater at levels higher than many international regulators allow.
Called "forever chemicals" because they fail to decompose in the environment, PFAS have been in use since the 1950s, finding their way into consumer products to make them nonstick, water-repellent, and temperature-resistant. Some known PFAS, like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), are associated with various health problems, including cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage, and hormone disruption.
The US Environmental Protection Agency identifies toxic heavy metals found in the soil and water, including lead and arsenic. These heavy metals pose health risks even at low levels of exposure, with an increase in arsenic levels in children's urine being associated with a 0.4-point decrease in IQ levels between ages 5 and 15.
Flame retardants have been linked to a 300% higher chance of developing cancer. These toxins are the most significant cause of intellectual disability in children globally, with 162 million IQ points and over 738,000 cases lost due to this effect.
Phthalates, occurring in countless consumer goods like food packaging, hair care products, cosmetics, and children's toys, have been linked to premature death in individuals aged 55 to 64 in the US. Past research associates phthalates with reproductive issues, including abnormal genital development in in infants and lower sperm levels and testosterone amounts in grown men. Phthalates further connect with infancy obesity, asthma, heart issues, and cancer.
This analysis stands out as phthalates are the only chemical group to be correlated with a lower probability of metabolic syndrome. All other chemical types increased the risk.
We interact with a diversity of chemicals every day
Chemicals exhibit various effects on the body. For instance, specific PFAS compounds are known to accumulate in the liver, resulting in fatty liver disease and increased cholesterol. Flame retardants and other agents could also be stored in body fat, leading to obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes, per the editorial.
As individuals encounter diverse classes of potentially harmful substances daily, conducting a study to gauge how they affect different body parts would provide a more realistic depiction of potential health risks.
This research tackled metabolic syndrome, a combination of measurements related to blood sugars, lipids, fat tissue, and heart health, one of the few studies to attain this objective, as stated in the editorial.
"We usually evaluate health threats based on individual chemicals while presuming we are only exposed to one chemical at a time," commented Jane Houlihan, the national director of science and health for Healthy Babies Bright Futures, an alliance of advocates seeking to cut babies' exposure to neurotoxic substances.
"The study demonstrates that an infant's risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes can be significantly influenced by the complex mixture of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the body at any given moment and underlines the particular risk of chemical exposures during pregnancy," she added.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures released a study in 2019 finding toxic metals in 95% of the baby foods randomly sampled from supermarkets, sparking the introduction of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, a bill that would enable the US Food and Drug Administration to establish stricter health standards and supervise these regulations via accessing food suppliers' and manufacturers' records.
"Given the enormous rise in metabolic syndrome in the US, health authorities and industries should be making every effort to tighten safety measures and to eliminate these chemicals from the market and our everyday items," Houlihan concluded.
How to reduce intake
To decrease exposure to plastics and other toxins, especially crucial during pregnancy and childhood due to developing fetuses and small bodies being more vulnerable, there are some measures to adopt.
Reduce rice consumption for infants and children, and ensure thorough rinsing of grains, removing up to 60% of arsenic, Houlihan advises. Cut back on juice, and if possible, clean and peel fruits and vegetables carefully.
Avoid stain-resistant carpets and spraying them with waterproofing agents.
Examine your locality for levels of PFAS and other chemicals in your water supply. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit advocacy organization, has developed a national tap water database searchable by zip code and a US map detailing PFAS occurrence.
If you're concerned about your water quality, think about purchasing a reverse osmosis filter, which is the most effective option, according to EWG. NSF International, formerly the National Sanitation Foundation, lists recommended filters.
If possible, use tap water instead of bottled water, which contains nanoplastics that can permeate cells and tissues and shed harmful chemicals.
In your own home, consider switching to glass or ceramic containers when reheating food. Choose pans made of ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel, avoiding those coated with chemicals to reduce food sticking. Selecting stainless steel or glass bottles instead of plastic containers is also suggested.
"Opt for cosmetics free of endocrine disruptors, such as parabens, benzophenone, and phthalates," Güil-Oumrait advised. Consider the same for food, sunscreens, household cleaners, and other items packed in plastic.
The EWG has several consumer databases providing information on products with fewer chemicals, including food scores, personal care items, sunscreen recommendations, and a healthy living app.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
