Exposure to phthalates may promote childhood obesity – study

A team of scientists at the medical school’s Children’s Environment Health Center claim that research into the relationship between phthalates and childhood obesity was underlined by increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

The findings were published in a recent paper in the online journal Environmental Research, which measured phthalate concentrations in the urine of 387 black and Hispanic children in New York City, followed a year later by comparative measurements of waist and BMI.

The urine test showed that more than 97 percent of the children had been exposed to phthalates commonly found in a range of cosmetic and personal care products, including nail varnishes, perfumes and topical lotions, together with some types of packaging.

Monoethyl phthalates biggest offender​

The scientists say that the most prevalent phthalates included the monoethyl (MEP) variety, together with other low molecular weight phthalates.

After analyzing the results, the research team found that there was a direct correlation between concentrations of these phthalates with BMI and waist circumference in the individual children that fell into the overweight category.

Underlining these findings was the fact the study results showed that the BMI in overweight girls with the highest exposure to MEP was 10 percent greater than those individuals with the lowest MEP exposure.

First evidence to underline link with obesity​

"Research has shown that exposure to these everyday chemicals may impair childhood neurodevelopment, but this is the first evidence demonstrating that they may contribute to childhood obesity,"​ said the study's lead author Susan Teitelbaum, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

"This study also further emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure to these chemicals where possible."​

The plan is that Dr. Teitelbaum and the team will further evaluate the impact of the chemicals on childhood obesity to ‘definitively’ establish whether or not there is a link between the two.

California study points to phthalate risk to pregnant women​

Last year a study conducted by the University of California – San Fransisco, analyzed 163 chemicals found in a range of consumer products, earmarking phthalates as an offender.

The study, led by scientist Tracey Woodruff, was said to the be the first time the number of chemicals to which pregnant women are exposed to has been comprehensively counted, but does not take into account the effect the chemicals had on the subjects' health.

The results showed that phthalates, together with chemicals found in other consumer products such as the banned chemical PBDEs, PAHs PCBs and perchlorate all occurred in between 99 and 100 percent of the women tested.