Plastic Chemicals Linked to Asthma, Allergies

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Plastic Chemicals Linked to Asthma, Allergies

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/95/103140.htm

Association Seen in Study of Swedish Children

By Miranda Hitti WebMD Medical News Reviewed By

Charlotte Grayson, MD on Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Oct. 6, 2004 -- Certain chemicals commonly added to

plastics are associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis

(hay fever), and eczema, according to a new study.

The findings come from researchers including

Carl-Gustaf Bornehag of the Swedish National Testing

and Research Institute in Boras, Sweden. The report

appears in the October issue of the journal

Environmental Health Perspectives.

Bornehag and colleagues compared 200 Swedish children

who had persistent allergy or asthma symptoms with a

similar number of kids without such symptoms.

Doctors screened the children for common allergens

(substances that can trigger an allergic reaction or

asthma symptoms) such as certain tree pollens, cat

dander, dust mites, and mold.

Affected children had at least two incidents of eczema

(an allergy-related skin condition), wheezing related

to asthma, or hay fever symptoms (runny nose without a

cold) in the past year. At the study's end, they had

at least two of three possible symptoms.

Researchers took dust samples from the moulding and

shelves in the children's bedrooms.

Samples containing higher concentrations of chemicals

called phthalates were associated with symptoms of

asthma, hay fever, and eczema.

PVC flooring in the children's bedrooms was also

associated with symptoms.

Phthalate Primer

Phthalates are commonly added to plastics as softeners

and solvents. They're used in a wide variety of

products including nail polish and other cosmetics,

dyes, PVC vinyl tile, carpet tiles, artificial

leather, and certain adhesives.

By leaching out of products, phthalates have become

" global pollutants, " say the researchers. More than

3.5 million metric tons of phthalates are produced

annually.

Phthalates aren't new, but they have become more

common in recent decades. Towards the end of World War

II, only " very low levels " of phthalates were

produced.

In fact, phthalates are now so widespread that they

are hard to avoid.

Asthma and allergies have also increased in the

developed world during the last 30 years, prompting

some experts to wonder if environmental changes are

responsible, since genetic shifts might not be seen as

quickly.

This study concentrated on three common phthalates:

BBzP, DEHP, and di-n-butyl phthalate.

BBzP was associated with rhinitis and eczema and DEHP

was linked to asthma; di-n-butyl phthalate was not

associated with any symptoms.

The dust samples didn't have outlandish concentrations

of the phthalates. Levels fell within the range of

what is normally found in indoor environments, say the

researchers.

" Given the phthalate exposures of children worldwide,

the results from this study of Swedish children have

global implications, " they conclude.

SOURCES: Bornehag, C. Environmental Health

Perspectives, October 2004;

vol 112: pp 1393-1397. Newswise. WebMD Medical

Archives: " Group

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