Children who were exposed prenatally to flame retardants are more likely to have cognitive problems in childhood, a recent study finds.
The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine study tested blood samples from more than 300 pregnant women for exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, which are commonly found in flame retardants. Researchers then tracked the cognitive and behavioral patterns of about 200 of their children through age 5, said Aimin Chen, MD, a lead study author who presented the research May 6 at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The study found cognitive function deficits at age 5 and more behavior issues — specifically, hyperactivity —in children between ages 2 and 5, Chen said.
Past studies show exposure to flame retardant chemicals can lead to liver, thyroid and neurological damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The chemicals in retardants — such as pentabromodiphenyl ether and octabromodiphenyl ether — are known to easily leak out of commonly used items such as plastics, furniture and electronics, according to EPA.
“We’re trying to get a more comprehensive exposure assessment,” Chen told The Nation’s Health. “Overall, this study can point to a possible toxic effect of PBDEs and can at least raise some awareness into this issue.”
The chemicals have been known to affect humans and the surrounding environment, and are often detected in human breast milk and fish, according to EPA. Chen’s research is not the first to explore the link between cognitive function and flame retardant exposure. A University of California-Davis study, published online February 2012 in Human Molecular Genetics, showed learning deficits in genetically engineered mice that were exposed to the flame retardant chemical tetrabromodiphenyl ether.
EPA plans to complete a full risk assessment on four flame retardants throughout 2013 as part of its Toxic Substances Control Act Work Plan and Action Plan. The assessment, announced in March, will look at the possible impact the retardants will have on humans and the environment and whether regulatory action is necessary to reduce harm. Chemtura Corp., the sole U.S. manufacturer of the penta- and octa- chemicals, phased-out the production of the two chemicals as of Dec. 31, 2004.
Despite the phase-out, the chemicals still exist in the environment, Chen said. Parents, for example, will have to use other means to minimize risk, such as getting rid of furniture bought before 2004 or using filters to purify household air, he said. Chen said he recommended consulting organizations such as the Environmental Working Group, a health advocacy nonprofit, for consumer information.
For more information on the study, visit www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS13L1_3550.8.
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