Pregnant women with high exposure to phthalates are more likely to develop preeclampsia.
- Exposure to high levels of several types of phthalates increases the risk of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia by 27%.
- These risks are generally higher for pregnancies involving female fetuses.
- Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible and to some cosmetic items to retain their scent.
According to a study funded by the program “NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes”, High exposure to certain chemicals called phthalates can trigger complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Phthalates and pre-eclampsia: what are the conclusions of the study?
Here are the main findings of the research:
– doubling the levels of a specific molecule linked to exposure to phthalates found in PVC plastics and insect repellents – mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) – increased the chances of developing pre-eclampsia or eclampsia by 12%.
– Exposure to high levels of several types of phthalates increases the risk of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia by 27%.
– These risks were generally higher for pregnancies involving female fetuses.
“The results of this study indicate that exposure to certain phthalates found in plastics and other consumer products may be associated with pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia,” write the researchers at the end of their report.
The study involved 3,430 pregnant women who were recruited between 1999 and 2019.
Phthalates and pre-eclampsia: what are we talking about?
Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible and to some cosmetic items to retain their scent. “A certain amount of these products is released into the environment, including in food and drinks sold in certain plastic containers,” noted Montreal Heart Institute.
Preeclampsia is a common condition of pregnancy, associated with high blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the urine. “Most patients will deliver a healthy baby and recover quickly. However, if left untreated, this syndrome causes many complications that can lead to the death of the mother and/or child.”noted Inserm.
Eclampsia is the term for potentially fatal seizures caused by high intracranial pressure in the mother.