Ubiquitous Chemical Raises Risk of Childhood Hypertension

Phthalates are additives present in plastics ranging from kitchenware, toys, furniture, and flooring; previous studies have suggested that dietary exposure to this chemical, which can leach from packaging and mix with food, may cause significant metabolic and hormonal abnormalities – especially among infants and young children. Leonardo Trasande, from the New York University School of Medicine (New York, USA), and colleagues examined six years of data collected on children in the United States, ages 6 to 19 years, who were enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2008. Measuring phthalates in urine samples, the team found that levels of DEHP (di-2-ethyhexylphthalate), a common class of phthalate widely used in industrial food production, corresponded to elevated systolic blood pressure. Specifically for every three-fold increase in the level of breakdown products of DEHP, the team observed a 1 mmHg increase in blood pressure. The study authors warn that: “Dietary phthalate exposure is associated with higher systolic [blood pressure] in children and adolescents.”