Scientists have long been trying to determine what – if any – environmental factors play a role in the development of asthma. According to a recently released study, the exposure to plasticizers while still in utero could lead to the development of the disease in children.
This study, which was conducted by researchers from the Columbia University environmental health science lab, is the first to link childhood asthma to these products. Researchers took on this project as they noted a significant incline in the number of children with asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 11 children in the United States suffers from the disease.
Phthalates, which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more bendable and less breakable, have been linked with health effects ranging from inflammation to premature births, abnormalities in male genitalia and attention and learning problems.
The study found that children who had been exposed to phthalates in the womb had a 72 to 78 percent higher chance of developing asthma as they got older.
According to the Environmental Health News, "Kids whose mothers had the highest levels of di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) were 78 percent more likely to have an asthma diagnosis than kids whose mothers had the lowest levels. In addition, kids with mothers who had high levels of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) were 72 percent more likely to have asthma. Children also were 39 to 44 percent more likely to have asthma symptoms, such as wheeze, if their mothers had higher levels of DnBP and BBzP during pregnancy."
When it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones from harmful toxins that can cause health issues, the best thing to do is to implement routine asthma and allergy solutions for your family. For more information on the products available at Allergy Be Gone, contact us today.