Exposure to refractory chemicals found in everything from pajamas, sofas and electronics can cause birth defects and pregnancy problems – and scientists say they’re inevitable
- Researchers from California studied thousands of cases and found a ‘convincing’ link
- Association between overweight youth and mothers exposed to OPEs during pregnancy
Refractory chemicals found in furniture, clothing and many household items could cause obesity in children, scientists warn.
Researchers studied thousands of cases and found a ‘convincing’ link between overweight young people and mothers exposed to organophosphate esters (OPEs) during their pregnancies.
The chemicals, which were introduced in the mid-2000s to replace toxic alternatives, are used to make textiles, children’s toys, building materials, televisions and home appliances fireproof.
They are also added to some plastic items, such as food containers, to make them more flexible.
OPEs slowly break down and become dust, so individuals can be exposed to them through their skin or by breathing dust indoors.
Researchers found that they can affect thyroid hormone levels and cause inflammation in pregnant women, which can lead to high birth weight and premature birth.
High birth weight is associated with childhood obesity, which increases the risk of health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Scientists said it is virtually impossible for consumers to avoid the chemicals – and suggested they should be banned.
Researcher Jiwon Oh from the University of California said: ‘Our findings guide our understanding of how these chemicals could silently cause lasting challenges to the health of the next generation.
‘Because OPEs come from building materials, textiles, electronics and other products, consumers cannot choose products that do not contain OPEs. Only policy changes and regulations can limit its exposure.”
Deborah Bennett added: ‘There were more than 6,000 pregnancies included in this study, so we are very confident in our findings. Policy options to reduce exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants should be considered.”
The new study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the largest of its kind on the effect of OPEs.
Experts looked at mothers who showed signs of exposure to OPE in their urine.
Previous studies have shown that exposure to OPEs may also be associated with lower IQ and attention span in children.