Chemicals that are found in plastics may alter baby boys’ genitals before birth

Chemicals that are found in plastics may alter baby boys’ genitals before birth, a new study finds.Researchers analyzed data gathered from over 700 infants in four U.S. cities and confirmed earlier findings that exposure to certain types of chemicals called phthalates may lead to changes in the way the male reproductive tract develops, according to Dr. Russ Hauser, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, who was not involved in this study.

153. The people of the Scripture (Jews) ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from heaven. Indeed they asked Musa (Moses) for even greater than that, when they said: "Show us Allah in public," but they were struck with thunder clap and lightning for their wickedness. Then they worshipped the calf even after clear proofs, evidences, and signs had come to them. (Even) so We forgave them. And We gave Musa (Moses) a clear proof of authority.

154. And for their covenant, We raised over them the Mount and (on the other occasion) We said: "Enter the gate prostrating (or bowing) with humility;" and We commanded them: "Transgress not (by doing worldly works on) the Sabbath (Saturday)." And We took from them a firm covenant .

155. Because of their breaking the covenant, and of their rejecting the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, and of their killing the Prophets unjustly, and of their saying: "Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say)" - nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.

156. And because of their (Jews) disbelief and uttering against Maryam (Mary) a grave false charge (that she has committed illegal sexual intercourse);

157. And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ]:

158. But Allah raised him ['Iesa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. 4. Surah An-Nisa' (The Women)

However, the findings in the study showed a small change, according to Shanna Swan, a reproductive health scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

“There was nothing clinically abnormal or noticeably different about these boys,” Swan told LiveScience.

The researchers measured pregnant women’s levels of 11 compounds that are formed in the body when phthalates are broken down. They then looked at those levels of compounds in the women’s urine during the first trimester.

Newborn boys who were exposed in the womb to the highest levels of one phthalate, called diethylhexyl phthalate, had an “anogenital distance” that was 4 percent shorter than that of the boys born to women with the lowest levels, LiveScience reports.

Researchers said in the study that the distance between the anus and the genitals is typically 50 to 100 percent longer in males than in females, and a shortened anogenital distance may signal incomplete masculinization.

The researchers were unclear if this alteration would be permanent or if it would result in reproductive health issues.

In a study involving animals, it was found that shortened anogenital distance at birth may signal reproductive abnormalities later in life. Swan noted that in order to prove this, the researchers would have to follow up with all the boys involved in this study when they reach adulthood in order to see if their reproductive health is affected.

No association between genital development and levels of several other phthalates in boys were found.

Diethylhexyl phthalate, as well as two other types of phthalates, have been banned in children’s toys by the U.S. government.

Even though most plastic food packaging and storage items are now made with plastics that do not contain diethylhexyl phthalate, a spokesperson from the American Chemistry Council told Live cience that people could be exposed to phthalates from food processing that involves storage in flexible plastic or rubber bags or containers.

“Information collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the last 10 years indicates that, despite the fact that phthalates are used in many products, exposure from all sources combined is extremely low – much lower than the levels established as safe by scientists at regulatory agencies,” the spokesperson wrote in an email to LiveScience.

Swan noted that diethylhexyl phthalate is still found in many humans, however, the levels of the chemicals have decreased over the past 10 years.

Between 2005 and 2008 other studies have been done on this subject and they also found that prenatal exposure at higher levels was associated with altered male genital development.

“We are finding a significant association between male anogenital distance and phthalates at lower and lower levels, which suggests that there may be no safe level of exposure,” Swan told LiveScience.

Plastic is everywhere—it's used in consumer products and packaging of all kinds. And while it solves a lot of problems for manufacturers and can seem convenient to consumers, there are also serious risks to human health and the environment from its widespread use.

Three plastics have been shown to leach toxic chemicals when heated, worn or put under pressure: polycarbonate, which leaches bisphenol A; polystyrene, which leaches styrene; and PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, which break down into vinyl chloride and sometimes containsphthalates that can leach.

And for more specific information about these and other chemicals found in plastics, including what they do and why they're bad for you, look below.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

TIPS FOR PREVENTION

Even though plastic is everywhere, there's a lot you can do to reduce your use of the most toxic plastics.

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most pervasive chemicals in modern life. It's a building block of polycarbonate (#7 is often polycarbonate) plastic and is used in thousands of consumer products, including food packaging. BPA exposure may disrupt normal breast development in ways that predispose women for later life breast cancer.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in PVC or #3 plastic. Phthalate exposure has been linked to early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer. Some phthalates also act as weak estrogens in cell culture systems.

Vinyl Chloride

Vinyl chloride is formed in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or #3 plastic. It was one of the first chemicals designated as a known human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It has also been linked to increased mortality from breast cancer among workers involved in its manufacture.

Dioxin

Dioxin is formed in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or #3 plastic. Dioxin has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known human carcinogen, and is also an endocrine disruptor.

Styrene

Styrene can leach from polystyrene or #6 plastic and is found in Styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, carryout containers and opaque plastic cutlery. It has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible human carcinogen.

When expectant mothers are exposed to plastics chemicals called phthalates during the first trimester, their male offspring may have a greater risk of infertility later in life, a new study suggests.

Boys exposed to the chemical diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) may be born with a significantly shorter anogenital distance than those not exposed to these chemicals. Anogenital distance is the distance between the anus and the genitals. A shorter anogenital distance has been linked to infertility and low sperm count, the researchers explained.

"We saw these changes even though moms' exposure to DEHP has dropped 50 percent in the past 10 years," said lead researcher Shanna Swan, a professor of preventive medicine and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

"Therefore, we have not found a safe level of phthalate exposure for pregnant women," she contended.

Swan said that this study cannot prove that these boys will have fertility problems as adults or that DEHP causes these problems. However, animal studies have implicated the chemical in male reproductive problems. Based on the data from this study, Swan believes there is a strong association between exposure to DEHP and fertility in human males.

DEHP is used to soften plastics. Most exposure results from eating foods that pick up the chemical during processing, Swan said.

"Since food is the largest source of DEHP for consumers, it is difficult for pregnant women to minimize exposure," she said. "Eating unprocessed food will likely help. However, eliminating DEHP from food really has to be done by food producers."

The chemical is also found in medical tubing and in a variety of products, including flooring, wallpaper, lacquers and personal care products, Swan said.

The report was published Feb. 19 in the journal Human Reproduction.

For the study, Swan's team collected data on almost 800 pregnant women and their infants.

Specifically, the researchers found that exposure in the womb to three types of DEHP was associated with a significantly shorter anogenital distance in boys, but not in girls.

A group representing the chemical industry took issue with the study, however.

In a statement, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) stressed that the study only examined one type of phthalate, not all versions of the chemical. And it said that phthalates are "one of the most widely studied family of chemicals in use today."

The ACC added that DEHP "is known to break down into its metabolites within minutes after it enters the body. Information collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the last 10 years indicates that, despite the fact that phthalates are used in many products, exposure from all sources combined is extremely low -- much lower than the levels established as safe by scientists at regulatory agencies."

But another expert says phthalate exposure may not be benign. Dr. Kenneth Spaeth, director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., said, "virtually everyone in the U.S. experiences continual exposure to phthalates."

And, a number of studies have tied the chemicals with changes in developing fetuses. "Phthalates, in particular, have been shown in both human and animal studies to interfere with normal fetal development," he said.

This study supports what has been demonstrated before, that phthalate exposure in the first trimester is linked to male reproductive development, Spaeth said. "This study is an important step forward in establishing this effect because the study included a much larger number of individuals than prior studies and helps identify one particular agent, DEHP, as an important contributor to this effect," he said.

Additionally, this study shows the importance of exposure in the first trimester as a critical window for the effect of phthalates on the male reproductive system. "On the whole, given these features, the authors have contributed important information about the public health risk posed by phthalates," Spaeth suggested.

A University of Calgary study has found that a common ingredient in consumer products can cause hyperactivity in zebrafish.

Bisphenol A, a chemical used to make household plastics and epoxy resins, is produced in large quantities around the world.

In response to public concerns, many manufacturers have replaced BPA with a chemical called bisphenol S (BPS), which is often labelled as “BPA-free” and presumed to be safer.

But the study’s findings suggest that both BPA and BPS can cause alterations in brain development that can lead to hyperactivity in zebrafish.

The fish are widely used by researchers to help understand embryonic brain development. About 80 per cent of the genes found in people have a counterpart in zebrafish, which have very similar developmental processes as humans.

“I was actually very surprised at our results. This was a very, very, very low dose, so I didn’t think using a dose this low could have any effect,” said Deborah Kurrasch, a researcher at the university’s Cumming School of Medicine and corresponding author on the paper.

Zebrafish embryos were exposed to concentrations of the chemicals at levels found in the Bow and Old Man rivers in southern Alberta. The exposure to BPA and BPS changed the timing when neurons were formed in the brains of the fish.

“We wanted to use a dose that was found in a natural waterway and that people would get in their drinking water. Waste-water treatment plants do not filter out BPA so this is presumably what is coming into people’s houses,” said Kurrasch.

“We used a dose that is lower than what developing babies have naturally and we found that brain development is perturbed (in the fish),” she said.

“You have a bunch of cells in your brain and at some point they become neurons and they have to move to the right place to form the right circuitry. If neurons are born too soon, they can move to the wrong place and can form the wrong circuits.”

The study found the number of neurons generated in the developing zebrafish brains increased by 180 per cent compared with unexposed fish. BPS increased the number of neurons by 240 per cent in similar experiments.