NEW research from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) has identified a concerning link between prenatal exposure to certain phenols and the development of asthma in children by age four. The large-scale nationwide study analysed 3,513 mother-child pairs, measuring phenol concentrations in urine samples collected during early pregnancy. The findings highlight the potential health risks posed by common phenols found in household products, cosmetics, and cleaning agents.
The study revealed that children born to mothers with high levels of butylparaben, a preservative commonly used in personal care products, had a 54% higher risk of developing asthma compared to those with lower exposure levels. For male children, the presence of 4-nonylphenol, an endocrine disruptor found in industrial and consumer products, doubled the odds of asthma development. Interestingly, this risk was not observed in female children, suggesting a potential gender-specific effect.
Lead author Shohei Kuraoka emphasised the significance of the findings: “Our research provides strong evidence that prenatal exposure to specific phenols can influence the development of asthma in children. These results underscore the importance of limiting phenol exposure during pregnancy to protect long-term respiratory health in children.”
The study offers a critical foundation for developing public health recommendations aimed at reducing prenatal exposure to phenols. With asthma rates rising globally, these findings are a call to action for more stringent regulations on the use of phenols in everyday products.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Kuraoka S et al. Association of phenol exposure during pregnancy and asthma development in children: The Japan Environment and Children’s study. Environ Pollut. 2024;361:124801.
