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New research shows that children exposed to high levels of pesticides, fungicides and synthetic chemicals in the womb are more likely to have a higher BMI in childhood than children exposed to lower levels of chemicals. Research has revealed this.
“This is important knowledge, given that accelerated growth during childhood is associated with a variety of health problems in childhood and later life, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes,” said the Barcelona Institute. said Parisa Montazeri, epidemiologist and scientific coordinator and lead author. Email to Global Health Spain.
All of the chemicals investigated in the study are suspected “obesogenic substances,” meaning they can promote obesity by interfering with metabolism and hormones, Montazeri said.
“All children were exposed before birth,” she added. “Some measurements were below the detection limit, meaning the concentration of the chemical being measured in the sample was too low to register, but this was in a small number of cases.”
previous research Researchers have shown a link between such chemicals and BMI and growth in children, as well as higher BMI and obesity levels in adults.
“This (study) confirms the reality that synthetic chemicals actually make us fat,” said director Dr. Leonardo Trasande. By email from the Department of Environmental Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health. He was not involved in the study.
The study measured levels of 23 common pollutants in the blood and urine of 1,911 pregnant women who participated in a birth cohort of a longitudinal study in Spain. Infancia and Medio Ambiente Project. This research network aims to investigate the lifelong effects of in utero exposure to chemical pollutants in air, water, and food.
The new study was published Wednesday in the journal From an environmental health perspective, The children’s growth and development were followed at 6 months of age and then at 1, 2, 4, 7, and 9 years of age.
Many of the chemicals included in the study are considered “persistent” because they break down slowly, Montazeri said, meaning they “remain in the environment and in our bodies for long periods of time, from years to decades.” said.
The fungicide hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is one such chemical. Banned in the United States in 1984, the law states that it “may be produced as a byproduct or impurity in the manufacturing process of certain chemicals and pesticides.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“HCB is well absorbed after oral administration, is widely distributed throughout the body, and accumulates in fatty tissue where it persists for years,” the CDC noted.
The researchers also measured levels of the insecticide dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), which is released when DDT, an insecticide banned in the United States in 1972, breaks down in the environment.
“Microorganisms in the soil slowly degrade DDT (it takes 2 to 15 years to degrade half of DDT).” According to the CDC.
Both DDT and HCB contamination in humans occurs “through bioconcentration in the food chain, primarily through fish, fish products, meat (and) dairy products,” Montazeri said.
The study also measured levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were banned in the United States in 1979 because they were found to cause cancer in humans and many other health problems in animals.However, a loophole inside Regulations allow some PCBs to be manufactured under certain circumstances. US Environmental Protection Agency.
Levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were also tested. PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because they take decades to break down, have been used since the 1950s to make products that are resistant to heat, oil, grease, dirt, and water. A February study found that PFAS alters thyroid function in children, while a 300-page report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that PFAS exposure and adult kidney cancer risk are increased and unusually high. There was “sufficient” scientific evidence of an association with risk. Cholesterol level.
The July 2022 report also found that PFAS exposure was well associated with reduced infant and fetal growth in both adults and children, and reduced antibody responses to vaccines.
Other chemicals studied, such as phthalates and phenols, are less persistent and remain in the body for hours to days before being flushed out. Still, a 2021 report found that phthalates have negative effects on neurodevelopment in fetuses, infants, and children. Studies have also shown a link to phthalates. childhood obesity, asthma, cardiovascular problems, cancer and reproductive issues like genital malformation and undescended testis baby boy and low sperm count and testosterone levels in adult men.
“Phthalates and phenols come from plastics and personal care products,” Montazeri said. “Exposure is possible through contaminated food and drink, as well as through skin contact and inhalation.”
The researchers measured the chemicals both individually and in mixtures, with the latter providing a more “realistic representation” of how humans are exposed to common pollutants, Montazeri said.
Professor Trasande, who is also a professor of pediatrics and population health at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, said: “This study adds to the rich literature suggesting that looking at mixtures of chemicals is equally important. Because exposure leads to weight gain from 1,000 cuts…and exposure to one can make someone more vulnerable to exposure to the other.”
As a result, “persistent” chemicals such as HCB, DDE, PCBs, and one of PFAS are associated with an increased risk of low birth weight babies, which can retard growth, and subsequently range from 19% to 32%. BMI was shown to accelerate.
“We found this association in both single-chemical and mixed models,” Montazeri said. “These babies started out small, then grew very quickly, and then continued on this accelerated trajectory, so at the end of our measurements (9 years) they had some of the highest BMIs. I have.”
The study could not determine whether children continue to absorb chemicals after birth through breast milk, food, air, water, soil, and household products containing various pollutants.
“Children’s exposures after pregnancy can influence their children’s BMI trajectories, but this does not explain the association we found between in utero exposures and BMI trajectories.” Montazeri said. “Our study highlights the need for further research to assess the lifelong health effects of children exposed to environmental chemicals prenatally.”
Expectant mothers can take steps to limit exposure to potentially toxic chemicals.
“Personal recommendations for expectant mothers are to avoid storing food in plastic containers, heating it in the microwave, and avoiding cooking it in non-stick frying pans. ” Montazeri said in an email.
addition Tips from the experts include:
• Avoid eating fish known to be high in mercury and PCBs, such as shark and swordfish.
• Eat local, organic food as often as possible to avoid pesticides and other chemicals. For packaged items, please use the Environmental Working Group’s. meal score A database for finding foods with fewer additives.
• Check the labels on your cosmetics. This often contains phthalates and other chemicals that can be harmful to people and animals. Use EWG cosmetics database To find options with fewer pollutants.
• Choose ceramic or stainless steel cookware and avoid products with flame retardants.
• When cleaning the floor, use a wet mop to remove dust that may contain chemicals.
• Test your water for PFAS and select: certified filter From the National Health Foundation.
