Ftalaten en astma bij kinderen*
Uit een kleine studie blijkt dat blootstelling aan ftalaten een duidelijke risicofactor is voor het krijgen van astma bij kinderen. De studie betrof 244 kinderen in de leeftijd van 5 tot 9 jaar. Alle kinderen hadden in hun urine sporen van ftalaten, variërend van weinig tot veel. Kinderen met de hogere
urinewaarden bleken duidelijk meer stikstofoxide uit te ademen dan zij met de lagere waarden. Stikstofoxide is een marker voor luchtweginfecties. Ftalaten worden veelal gebruikt als weekmaker in plastic of om parfums te stabiliseren doch ook in verzorgingsproducten, zeep, cosmetica, drukinkten enz.. Ftalaten worden echter ook gebruikt in de (enteric)coating van medicijnen. Ftalaten zijn lichaamsvreemde chemicaliën die in het lichaam het endocriene systeem verstoren door het nabootsen van hormonen. In speelgoed zijn ftalaten al grotendeels verboden doch in veel andere producten,
zoals die van Disney, Spider-Man, Dora die door kinderen gebruikt worden zit nog volop ftalaten zoals blijkt uit een andere studie.
Children Exposed to Two Phthalates Have Elevated Risk of Asthma-Related Airway Inflammation
Children exposed to diethyl phthalate (DEP) and butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) -- phthalate chemicals commonly found in personal care and plastic products -- have elevated risk of asthma-related airway inflammation, according to researchers at Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Of the 244 children aged 5 to 9 in the study, all had detectable levels of phthalates in their urine although these varied over a wide range. Higher levels of both phthalates were associated with higher levels of nitric oxide in exhaled breath, a biological marker of airway inflammation. The association between BBzP exposure and airway inflammation was especially strong among children who had recently reported wheeze, a common symptom of asthma. Results were recently published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
"While many factors contribute to childhood asthma, our study shows that exposure to phthalates may play a significant role," says Allan Just, PhD, first author on the new CCCEH study and current postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Just and co-investigators looked at children enrolled in the CCCEH Mothers and Newborns study. All live in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx where asthma prevalence is high. Exposure to phthalates was measured through a urine test, and the level of nitric oxide in the child's exhaled breath was quantified as a marker of airway inflammation.
The study is the first to use exhaled nitric oxide in a study of phthalate exposure in children. By using the biomarker in exhaled breath, the researchers overcame a significant hurdle. "Many asthma patients only have asthma exacerbations a few times a year, making it difficult to discern short-term associations between environmental exposures and the disease," explains Matthew Perzanowski, PhD, senior author and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School. "To solve this problem, we used nitric oxide, which has been shown to be a reliable marker of airway inflammation in response to known asthma triggers like vehicle emissions."
Phthalates are used widely in consumer products, including plastics, vinyl flooring, and personal care products, making exposure ubiquitous in the United States and other developed nations. Phthalates enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through the skin. However, past research has suggested inhalation to be a particularly important route of exposure to the two phthalates associated with airway inflammation in this study. Several phthalates are known to disrupt the endocrine system and early-life exposure has been linked not only to asthma but also to adverse neurobehavioral and reproductive effects. A recent study by Dr. Just and other CCCEH investigators found that prenatal exposure to BBzP was linked with increased risk of childhood eczema.
The research was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health grants R01 ES014393, R01 ES013163, P01 ES09600, R01 ES008977, and P30 ES009089; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants R827027, RD832141, RD834509, and EPA STAR graduate fellowship FP-91712001 for Allan C. Just; the John and Wendy Neu Family Foundation and other private funding sources.
Additional authors include Robin M. Whyatt, Rachel L. Miller, Andrew G. Rundle, Qixuan Chen, Antonia M. Calafat, Adnan Divjan, Maria J. Rosa, Hanjie Zhang, Frederica P. Perera, and Inge F.
Goldstein.
Hidden Toxic Chemicals in Children’s School Supplies – Center for Health, Environment & Justice
News release: Hidden Toxic Chemicals in Children’s School Supplies
New Report on Toxic Chemicals in Kids’ Products:
Hidden Toxic Chemicals Linked to Asthma and Birth Defects Found in Children’s “Back-to-School” Supplies
Laboratory Tests Reveal Levels Higher Than Deemed Safe in Toys
New Guide to Safer Products Released
(New York, NY) A brand new report reveals that toxic chemicals linked to asthma and birth defects that are banned in toys were found to be widespread in children’s vinyl back-to-school supplies.
Seventy-five percent of children’s school supplies tested in a laboratory had elevated levels of toxic phthalates, including popular Disney, Spiderman, and Dora branded school supplies such as vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks, 3-ring binders, raincoats, and rainboots. Hidden Hazards: Toxic Chemicals Inside Children’s Vinyl Back-to-School Supplies was released in New York City today outside of Kmart, where some of the school supplies were
purchased.
“Our investigation found elevated levels of toxic phthalates widespread in children’s school supplies, including Disney and Spider-Man lunchboxes and backpacks. These dangerous chemicals manufactured by Exxon Mobil have no place in our children’s school supplies. Unfortunately, while phthalates have been banned in children’s toys, similar safeguards don’t yet exist to keep them out of lunchboxes, backpacks and other children’s school supplies. It’s time for Congress to move forward and pass the Safe Chemicals Act to protect our children from toxic exposure,” says Mike Schade from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), author of the new report, Hidden Hazards: Toxic Chemicals Inside Children’s Vinyl Back-to-School Supplies. CHEJ collaborated on the report with the Empire State Consumer Project.
“It is disturbing that millions of young children are being exposed to these toxic chemicals with no enforcement to protect them,” said Judy Braiman of the Empire State Consumer Project, co-publisher of the report.
The Honorable Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) was at the new report’s release event, and says, “School supplies are supposed to help our children with their education, they shouldn’t be harming their health. We don’t allow high levels of these toxic chemicals in children’s toys and we certainly shouldn’t allow them in back-to-school products. When kids take their lunch to school this fall, they shouldn’t be carrying it in a lunchbox laden with anything other than a nutritious meal, packed by mom.” Senator Schumer is a co-sponsor of the Safe Chemicals Act, new legislation that would reform our nation’s broken chemical safety system. Senator Schumer also sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today urging the agency to complete their review of EPA’s proposal to classify phthalates as “chemicals that present or may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.”
“The report released by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice informs us, as parents, teachers, family members of schoolchildren, of the hazardous chemicals that are found in various back-to-school supplies. Children’s school supplies should be free of chemicals , such as phthalates, that are dangerous to their health and have been linked to cause chronic diseases such as asthma, obesity, cancer and more. We cannot afford to put the lives of the children at risk and must urge the City to pass laws that prevent these toxics to be part of the everyday lives of our children,” said Council Member Robert Jackson, Chair of the Education
Committee.
“The New York State Parent Teacher Association has adopted resolutions calling for the reduction of toxic materials in schools and is pleased to support the release of this information to the public and urges everyone to reduce their families’ exposure to phthalates by choosing phthalate-free products. The Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies released by CHEJ is one source to find those products,” says Sue Rau, New York State Parent Teacher
Association.
“Phthalates are chemicals that have been linked to asthma, ADHD, and other chronic health problems in children. This new report has now shown that many common products specifically intended for children have high levels of phthalates. It is imperative that parents are educated about how to protect their children by buying safer PVC-free school supplies, and that our lawmakers pass legislation to protect children from the long-term health effects of phthalate toxicity,” said pediatric neurologist Dr Maya Shetreat-Klein, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of
Medicine.
“Toxic chemicals, like phthalates, are hidden in the school supplies that we buy for our kids and that is a real problem. Toxic chemicals and kids shouldn’t mix! WE ACT for Environmental Justice has partnered with the Columbia Children’s Environmental Health Center on studies that show how phthalates exposure on women and children in Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx can cause developmental delays and heighten our children’s risk of diabetes, obesity and asthma,” comments Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, Environmental Justice Federal Policy Analyst, WE Act for Environmental
Justice.
“As a mom, I am horrified to know that Spider-Man and Dora could be associated with highly toxic chemicals,” said Penelope Jagessar Chaffer, Director of the film Toxic Baby. “As a filmmaker who has worked on this issue for years, I know what the effects of these toxic chemicals are on the bodies of children. As more and more American moms become aware of this issue, it’s clear that we are going to be using our considerable clout as consumers to buy products that are safe for kids. These products are
not.”
“This report highlights the fact that parent’s can’t assume that a product is safe for their kids simply because it is on a store shelf. Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Kathy Curtis, Executive Director at Clean and Healthy New York. “We need comprehensive laws that make sure chemicals are safe. But until that day, advocates will continue to test products and inform the public about how to protect themselves and their families.”
The 2012 Back-to-School Guide to PVC-free School Supplies, a guide to safer school supplies in over 40 product categories was announced along with the Hidden Hazards Report. The new guide shows shoppers how to choose safer school
supplies.
“We are proud to co-release this guide with CHEJ. We strongly support efforts to protect children’s health and this guide is an important tool to do just that,” said Kathleen Donahue, Vice President of the New York State United Teachers
(NYSUT).
“Nothing is more precious to us than our children,” said Karen Miller, President of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC). “We would go to the ends of the Earth to keep them out of harm’s way. Yet common products we purchase are putting our kids at risk for toxic overload. Back to school season has offered some businesses another opportunity to further expose our children to harmful chemicals. It’s outrageous! We can do something about it. Today, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) released lab results showing which common back-to-school vinyl products contain phthalates. With this important information, we can take necessary steps to protect our families from harmful chemicals. The more we know, the smarter choices we can make. The toxic chemicals we are exposed to early in life affect us during a lifetime. Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC) appreciates Senator Schumer for shining a light on this important health issue.”
“A manufacturer’s use of PVC plastic in children’s school supplies interferes with our basic right to protect our kids from harm. PVC’s many toxic non-binding chemicals have a great potential to be ingested by small children. Now, with so many safe alternatives available, how much longer will our government allow these products to be purchased by unsuspecting consumers?” says Patti Wood, Executive Director of Grassroots Environmental
Education.
“Children are under assault on all fronts from toxic chemicals and this report shows that they’re bringing toxics with them to school in their backpacks, lunch boxes and school supplies,” said New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) Legislative Counsel Russ Haven. ”Even Spider Man and the intrepid Dora the Explorer can’t defend against invisible toxic chemicals that are released from every-day products and absorbed through the skin, inhaled with every breath, or get into food or on fingers and ingested
orally.”
“On behalf of 11,000 NYC members of the Sierra Club we are happy to Join Senator Schumer and the Center for Health, Environment & Justice as they release the Back to School Guide to PVC free School Supplies,” said Irene Van Slyke, Vice Chair, NYC Executive Committee of the Sierra Club. “Anyone shopping for school supplies for children should take the Guide with them to buy items that are as safe as they can be for children. The Guide is easy to use and provides specific recommendations for safer products. More importantly, the Sierra Club urges the City to purchase PVC free supplies for our schools. There are plenty of cost effective alternatives to PVC and they are manufactured in the US! It would be the right move for New Yorkers’ health and the environment. Prevention of disease makes more sense than having to pay for health care costs associated with chemical
exposure.”
Resources
New Hidden Hazards Report
(November 2012)
Reacties: