Male birth defect may be linked to hairspray

William Atkins
Sunday, 23 November 2008 22:38

Science - Health

The researchers report also states that folic acid supplements may help to reduce the risk of hypospadias.

Folic acid (also called folate, Vitamin M, and folacin) are types of Vitamin B₉.

They found that the use of such supplements within the first three months of pregnancy reduced the risk of hypospadias by about one-third (up to 36 percent).

The authors stated, “There was a significant protective effect of folate use during the first three months of pregnancy...."

Also, the researchers found that, "Vegetarianism was not associated with hypospadias risk.” [Author's note, it was not stated by the researchers why vegetarianism (not eating meat products, and the eating of only vegetables and other non-meat products) is associated with this study.]

And, they concluded, “Excess risks of hypospadias associated with occupational exposures to phthalates and hair spray suggest that anti-androgenic endocrine disrupting chemicals may play a role in hypospadias. Folate supplementation in early pregnancy may be protective.”

The researchers stated that it is too early to state that phthalates increase the risk of hypospadias in male babies but warn that further studies should be conducted to verify the chemical, which is used in some plastics and is also found in hairspray.

According to the BBC News article “Hairspray linked to birth defect,” “Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones, and have been banned in toys in the EU for some years.” It added, “Certain phthalates have also been banned from hairsprays and other cosmetic products since January 2005.”

The BBC News article also stated that a decisive link between exposure of hairpray in pregnant women and the birth defect hypospadias in male babies has not been medically made.

However, scientists think that all people, especially women who can get pregnant, should be warned of the possible risk from hairspray and other products that contain phythalates.

The authors of the study are Gillian Ormond (University College Cork, Ireland; and Imperial College London, U.K.), Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen (Imperial College London, U.K.; and Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, IMIM, CIBERESP, Spain), Paul Nelson (Independent Public Health Consultant, U.K.), and  Mireille B Toledano, Nina Iszatt, Sara Geneletti, and Paul Elliott (all from Imperial College London, U.K.).