"Kids Exposed in the Womb To Plasticizers More Likely To Have Asthma"

"New York City children exposed in the womb to moderate levels of two plasticizers had a 72 to 78 percent higher chance of developing asthma, according to a new study published [Wednesday].

The study is the first to link childhood asthma, which has been increasing in recent decades, to prenatal exposure to phthalates.

'These results suggest that phthalates may be one of the factors associated with that increase,' said Robin Whyatt, a Columbia University environmental health scientist who led the study. She added, however, that more studies are needed to understand how important a risk factor these chemicals may be.

Phthalates, used in the manufacture of vinyl and some cosmetics, have been connected to a number of health effects in lab animal and human studies, including airway inflammation, altered male genitalia, attention and learning problems and premature births."

Lindsey Konkel reports for Environmental Health News September 17, 2014.