Pregnant Women in Brooklyn Have the Highest Levels Worldwide of Certain Substances Used as Preservatives in Cosmetics
Oct 26, 2015
First Published Report on Parabens in Human Cord Blood Recommends Monitoring to Assess if Risks Exist for Fetal and Adult Health
Brooklyn, NY – Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and Arizona State University have published the first study of levels of parabens – antibacterial substances commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and other products – in human cord blood samples. The researchers found that a cohort of pregnant women in Brooklyn predominantly of Caribbean- and African-American descent had the highest level worldwide of methyl paraben and propyl paraben.
The results were published online in the journal Environment International, in an article titled, “Maternal and fetal exposure to parabens in a multiethnic urban U.S. population.”
The article notes that parabens have been used for decades and, at recommended levels, are “generally recognized as safe” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union. However, parabens have the potential to disrupt the expression of hormones during influential times of development, possibly affecting fetal, child, and even adult health. The authors point out that recent studies have raised awareness for potential health effects, particularly during fetal development and in children younger than six to 12 months of age, a period when detoxification systems are still immature, “and thus leaving the exposed more vulnerable,” notes senior author Rolf Halden, PhD, professor and director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Security at Arizona State University.
Article co-author Laura A. Geer, PhD, MHS, associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate, said, “What we know from the study is that parabens are being transferred from pregnant women to their fetuses. This is problematic because parabens have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting potential in animal studies, leading to developmental and reproductive disorders. It is too early to know if these same effects can occur in humans, and if so, at what levels of exposure.”
She adds, “I would not characterize these findings as alarming, but rather of concern, since we do not have relevant regulatory limits for these substances. The European Union countries set limits by volume per product, a good starting point. Limiting exposure to these substances is complicated because of their ubiquity in personal care and consumer products. Higher exposure levels in more vulnerable populations, such as in our study, gives further justification for us to answer the questions of what higher levels mean for health.” In a follow-up study, the authors are examining possible impacts on birth outcomes; results are forthcoming.
The article citation is:
Pycke BF, Geer LA, Dalloul M, Abulafia O, Halden RU. Maternal and fetal exposure to parabens in a multiethnic urban U.S. population. Environ Int. (2015) Nov;84:193-200. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.08.012.
The research leading to the results published in Environment International was supported in part by Award Numbers R01ES015445 and R01ES020889 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust through award number LTR 05/01/12. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This initial study also received funds from the New York Community Trust (1065719). The sponsors had no role in the study outside of funding. The funding sources were not involved in the execution or publication of the study.
Journalists may obtain a copy of the full article by contacting newsroom@elsevier.com.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.