RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Pregnant women exposed in the workplace to hairspray and chemicals classified as phthalates have a two- to threefold greater chance of giving birth to baby boys with genital birth defects, according to a study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Phthalates are chemicals used in many synthetic fragrances and personal-care products and are sometimes added to help makeup and lotion stick to your skin longer. They also make plastic products more flexible.
THE DETAILS: Researchers surveyed mothers of about 470 boys born with hypospadias, a condition in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis instead of the tip, questioning them about their diet, folate supplementation during the first trimester, and exposure to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the job. Hairspray was of particular interest, since a 2003 study suggested a connection to birth defects. A comparison with 490 mothers of boys born without the defect showed that exposure to phthalates yielded more than double the risk of giving birth to boys with the condition. Women at a higher risk worked in hair salons or as research chemists, line operators, pharmaceutical operators, electrical assemblers, or factory assistants. Taking folate supplements in the first trimester helped mitigate the risk.
WHAT IT MEANS: Phthalates are found in many products, including hairspray, deodorants, cosmetics, cleaners, plastic toys, vinyl flooring and shower curtains, aftershave, cologne and perfume, and moisturizers. Although this study looked at exposure levels at work, there’s a chance you’re absorbing phthalates on a daily basis from personal-care products, too. “As general advice, many women may think it prudent to reduce as far as possible their exposure to chemicals in the first three months of pregnancy,” says study coauthor Paul Elliott, professor and chair, department of epidemiology and public health at Imperial College in London.
If you’re pregnant, here are some ways to cut back on your exposure to phthalates:
• Blow off hairspray. “I cannot recommend that anyone use the common types of hairspray,” says researcher Anne Steinemann, PhD, civil and environmental engineer at University of Washington in Seattle, who studies indoor air pollution and toxins. She suggests nontoxic alternatives, such as making homemade gel by dissolving a package of unflavored gelatin in 2 cups of hot water (refrigerate before using) or plain aloe vera gel.
• Shun chemical scents. Phthalates often hide in man-made fragrances, so if you’re pregnant, favor unscented personal-care and cleaning products. Stay away from products that list “fragrance” or “parfum” as an ingredient—they sound innocuous, but those are catch-all terms for as many as 7,000 chemical ingredients not required to be listed on labels. While you’re at it, ditch fragrance-based air fresheners and scented candles. Burn beeswax candles or use essential oil diffusers instead.
• Take folic acid. Whether you’re exposed to hairspray or not, taking folic acid is essential during your pregnancy. In this study, folic acid had a protective affect against hypospadias. It also protects against other birth defects. You'll find folic acid in multivitamins or as a standalone supplement; you can also find it in its natural form in fortified breakfast cereals, dried beans, leafy green vegetables, and orange juice. Shoot for 400 micrograms a day during early pregnancy. In a best-case scenario, a woman should begin taking folic acid a year before conception.
• Speak up for a safer workplace. If you work in a salon or one of other the at-risk workplaces listed above, talk to your employer about recent studies tying phthalates to birth defects, asthma and allergies, obesity, liver and kidney problems, and damaged sperm in men.