Washington, July 7 (IANS) A common contaminant present in consumer products, including cosmetics, may be causing an alarming rise in premature births, according to a new study. Phthalates are commonly used compounds in plastics, personal care products, home furnishings (vinyl flooring, carpeting, paints etc.) and many other consumer and industrial products. Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (SPH) found that women who deliver prematurely have, on average, up to three times the phthalate level in their urine compared to women who carry to term. John Meeker and colleagues looked at data from 60 women: 30 who carried to term and 30 who delivered prematurely (defined as less than 37 weeks gestation). They analysed urine samples collected during the third trimester and compared them to the control group who carried to term. They found significantly higher phthalate metabolite levels in the women who delivered prematurely.
Premature birth is a significant risk factor for many health problems in childhood that can persist into adulthood, Meeker said. In the US, premature births have increased by more than 30 percent since 1981 and by 18 percent since 1990. In 2004, premature births accounted for 12.8 percent of live births nationwide, said a University of Michigan release. Being born too early can also lead to chronic health problems such as blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, low IQ and more. These findings will appear in Environmental Health Perspectives.
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