Chemical commonly found in consumer products may disrupt a hormone
needed for healthy pregnancy

Date:
January 12, 2022
Source:
Rutgers University
Summary:
Exposure to phthalates -- a group of chemicals found in everything
from plastics to personal care products to electronics -- may
disrupt an important hormone needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy,
according to a new study. The study has examined the impact that
phthalates, added to plastics to increase flexibility, have on the
placental corticotropin releasing hormone (pCRH) that is produced
by the placenta and increases throughout the course of pregnancy.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Exposure to phthalates -- a group of chemicals found in everything from plastics to personal care products to electronics -- may disrupt an
important hormone needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy, according to
a Rutgers study.


==========================================================================
The study, which appears in Environment International, was among the
first to examine the impact that phthalates, added to plastics to increase flexibility, have on the placental corticotropin releasing hormone (pCRH)
that is produced by the placenta and increases throughout the course of pregnancy. The hormone plays an important role in promoting the onset
of labor, but when levels are high or rise rapidly earlier in pregnancy,
it may contribute to preterm birth and fetal growth problems as well as
high blood pressure, diabetes, and postpartum depression.

"We are all exposed to phthalates in our environment through the products
we use and the foods we eat," says Emily S. Barrett, an associate
professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and member of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute. "Our findings
show that these chemicals may alter the production of essential placental hormones, which has important implications for the course of pregnancy
as well as subsequent child health and development." The researchers
analyzed data from 1,018 low-risk pregnant women carrying single fetuses
at two time points, mid- and late pregnancy.

They found that the presence of various phthalates was associated with
higher pCRH hormone levels in mid-pregnancy, but lower pCRH later in
pregnancy. These levels were strongest in women who developed pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure,
suggesting that women who develop complications may be particularly
vulnerable to this hormonal disruption. This is among the first and
largest study so far to examine how these chemicals and the connection
with pCRH disrupt the function of the endocrine system, which is
especially delicate during pregnancy.

"Associations between phthalates and pCRH among women with pregnancy complications grew stronger across the course of pregnancy. We know
very little about how women with pregnancy complications are affected by environmental exposures. This study sets the stage for future research
in that area," Barrett said.

pCRH produced by the placenta is identical in structure to corticotropin- releasing hormone (CRH) produced by the brain when responding to
stress. While this study did not find that women who had experienced
childhood traumas were any more vulnerable to the hormone-disrupting
effects of phthalates, earlier research found that pCRH levels were
higher in women who have experienced childhood trauma suggesting that
traumatic events may impact pregnancy decades later.

special promotion Get a free digital "Metabolism Myths"
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get wrong about diet and exercise. Claim_yours_now_>>> landing.newscientist.com/what-is-new-scientist-sd/ ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Rutgers_University. Original written
by Michelle Edelstein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Emily S. Barrett, Matthew Corsetti, Drew Day, Sally W. Thurston,
Christine T. Loftus, Catherine J. Karr, Kurunthachalam Kannan,
Kaja Z.

LeWinn, Alicia K. Smith, Roger Smith, Frances A. Tylavsky, Nicole R.

Bush, Sheela Sathyanarayana. Prenatal phthalate exposure in
relation to placental corticotropin releasing hormone (pCRH)
in the CANDLE cohort.

Environment International, 2022; 160: 107078 DOI: 10.1016/
j.envint.2022.107078 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112094017.htm
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