If you're pregnant or know someone who will be a mom and uses personal care products or cleansing items, it's important to be cautious.
A recent study from Kumamoto University suggests that exposure to chemicals commonly found in items like lotions and shampoos, such as butylparaben, may increase the risk of asthma in your child.
Analysing data from over 3,500 mother-child pairs, the research revealed that high levels of butylparaben and 4-nonylphenol—chemicals found in personal care and cleaning products—were associated with higher odds of asthma development.
The research, thus highlights the need for pregnant women to be aware of potential chemical exposures given their impact on both maternal and child health.
Notably, the effect of 4-nonylphenol was gender-specific, significantly affecting boys but not girls.
“Boys born to mothers exposed to this chemical had 2.09 times higher odds of developing asthma, while no such association were observed in girls,” said the study.
The researchers have called for better understanding and regulation of chemical exposures during pregnancy to protect maternal and child health.
Phenols, including parabens and alkylphenols, are widely used in consumer products for their preservative and antimicrobial properties, noted the study.
While their use is considered safe in small amounts, their potential as endocrine disruptors raises concerns about long-term health effects, such as the recent increase in allergenic diseases such as asthma, particularly during sensitive periods like pregnancy.
Led by Dr Shohei Kuraoka and his team at Southern Kyushu and Okinawa Unit Center of Japan Environment and Children's Study, researchers measured 24 types of phenols in urine samples collected from pregnant women.
They then tracked the health of their children until the age of four. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how everyday chemical exposures might contribute to respiratory and allergic conditions in children.
The study has shown implications on the health. "These results emphasise the need for careful evaluation of chemical exposure during pregnancy," said Dr Kuraoka. "Understanding these risks allows us to develop better guidelines to protect maternal and child health."
While the study provides groundbreaking insights, the researchers acknowledged limitations, such as not measuring phenol levels in children directly.
They said that future studies will aim to explore these mechanisms further and establish safe exposure thresholds.
