Exposure to phthalates may be a risk factor for low birth weight in infants
Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 07:35
in Health & Medicine
Many parents worry about their child's exposure to phthalates, the chemical compounds used as plasticisers in a wide variety of personal care products, children's toys, and medical devices. Phthalate exposure can begin in the womb and has been associated with negative changes in endocrine function. A new study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics examines the possibility that in utero phthalate exposure contributes to low birth weight in infants. Low birth weight is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age and increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in adulthood...