Using Cosmetic Products While Pregnant Could Affect Babies’ Brain Development: Study

Researchers indicate that synthetic chemicals commonly used in hygiene products could cause neurological harm to unborn children in utero.

A new study indicates that phthalates found in everyday cosmetic products like shampoo and soap could be released into pregnant women’s bodies, affecting the neurological development of their unborn babies.

Phthalates are synthetic chemicals often used to make plastic more flexible. They are found in a number of products like food packaging and toys, as well as women’s personal care products, including shampoos, soaps, nail polishes, perfumes and hair sprays. 

Exposure to phthalates has raised serious health concerns due to their ability to disrupt the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body. Research has linked phthalates to reproductive issues, including reduced fertility, developmental problems in children and hormonal imbalances. Some studies also suggest connections to increased risks of obesity, asthma and certain cancers.

Now, research published this month in the journal Nature Communications suggests that prenatal exposure to phthalates, often through the mother’s everyday personal care products like shampoos and soaps, can result in delays in a baby’s brain development.

The study was conducted by researchers from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who looked at data from the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort from 2016 through 2018, to evaluate how prenatal exposure to phthalates affects newborn neurobehavioral development.

The team focused on African American mothers due to past research showing that they are more frequently exposed to phthalates than white women, partly due to differences in personal care product use and environmental exposures. Lead researcher Donghai Liang noted this group was chosen to better understand the health risks faced by a population already at higher risk for pregnancy complications and environmental health disparities.

The researchers determined phthalate level exposure by looking at the mothers’ urine samples collected between weeks eight and 14, as well as weeks 24 and 30 of prenatal gestation.

Liang’s team found that mothers with higher levels of phthalate exposure during pregnancy showed changes in certain brain-related chemicals that play a key role in fetal brain development. These changes were linked to lower attention spans and reduced responsiveness in their newborns, suggesting that exposure to phthalates in the womb could have lasting effects on a baby’s brain and behavior.

“Taken together, this research supports the current mechanistic understanding of how prenatal phthalate exposure influences the newborn metabolome and how these biological perturbations might impact neurobehavioral outcomes,” the researchers concluded.

Phthalate Exposure Concerns

Liang’s research adds to growing evidence that exposure to phthalates, especially from women’s cosmetic products, can increase risks for babies in utero.

In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that phthalate exposure during pregnancy is both widespread and strongly linked to an increased risk of preterm birth. Researchers found that levels of phthalates were found in over 96% of participants, and women with higher concentrations faced a significantly greater risk of delivering early. 

Studies have also raised concerns about the widespread exposure to phthalates through food. In a study by the University of California’s Berkeley and San Francisco campuses, researchers found high amounts of phthalates in American restaurant food, which often occurs during industrialized production, but can also be a result of preparers wearing rubber gloves when handling food.

As a result of these kinds of studies, U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill to keep phthalates out of the U.S. food supply in August 2021. However, this bill has not yet been passed into law.