The phthalatesaffect children’s intelligence. The results of a study by researchers at Columbia University in the United States should worry pregnant women. Their survey of 328 pregnant New York women shows that contact with these plasticizers during pregnancy lowers their children’s IQ.
The urine of expectant mothers was analyzed during the third trimester of pregnancy to assess the concentration of phthalates. The IQ of their children who reached the age of 7 was then measured. Verdict, children most exposed to phthalates in utero had an IQ 6 points lower than the IQ of children whose mothers had lower phthalate levels during pregnancy.
This prenatal exposure to these pollutants leaves traces on the intellectual health of future adults. “The magnitude of these differences in IQ is disturbing, corroborates Robin Whyatt, director of the study. A drop of six or seven points could have substantial consequences on the academic success and the professional potential of these children.”
Phthalates that are difficult to avoid
Problem, in the United States as in France, these phthalates are difficult to avoid for pregnant women. It’s simple, they are everywhere in our environment: PVC objects, waterproof textiles, synthetic leathers, shower curtain, lipsticks, nail polish, spray cans or certain shampoos). Food is no exception. Milk, cheese, fish, meats or even cereals may contain it after the chemical substances have migrated from the containers, recalls the National Research and Safety Institute.
In recent years, studies have established the potential dangerousness of phthalates for humans, in particular on the liver, kidneys and the reproductive system. In particular, they present a carcinogenic risk, as tests on rodents have shown.
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