William Atkins
Sunday, 23 November 2008 22:38
Science -
Health
Page 2 of 3
Mothers of these baby boys were interviewed with respect to occupational exposure to hairspray, along with the use of folate supplements during pregnancy and vegetarianism.
They found that pregnant women who were exposed to hairspray at work were two times more likely to have a male baby that had the genital birth defect hypospadias.
In addition, they stated that there was a two to three times more risk of a pregnant women having a male baby with hypospadias if she was exposed occupationally to hairspray during her first trimester of pregnancy.
The API article states,
“The study suggests hairspray and hypospadias may be linked because of chemicals in hairspray known as phthalates. The report said previous studies have proposed that phthalates may disrupt the hormonal systems in the body and affect reproductive development.”
Phthalates, sometimes also called phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid. They are primarily used to increase the flexibility of plastics (mostly polyvinyl chloride). When used for such purposes, the substances are called "plasticizers."
Phthalates are being slowly eliminated from many products in the United States and Europe because of health and safety concerns.
Folic adic may help to reduce the risk from this birth defect. Please read page three.
