Environmental Chemicals in Pregnant Women
Phthalates may be used in coatings for tablets, or in perfumes, nail polish and eye makeup; household cleaning products; home flooring and wall coverings; and food packaging and medical devices. A recent study measured levels of phthalate metabolites in the urine of 165 healthy pregnant women between the 30 and 34th week of pregnancy. The study found an inverse association between prenatal exposure to the low molecular weight phthalate and pregnancy duration.
Increased exposure was linked to reduced head circumference in newborns. The study highlights the need for legislation restricting the use of chemicals like phthalates and the need for pregnant women to reduce as much as possible their exposure to toxins in their environment, and through anything they place on their skins or ingest.
