Every woman wants to look their best. Many of them are willing to spend money to buy cosmetics for the sake of supporting their appearance, including those who are pregnant. Today, many cosmetic manufacturers claim that their products are safe for pregnant women.

Unfortunately, many of those pregnant women use products that contain hazardous chemicals. Phthalate is one of the substances commonly used in cosmetic products. The substance plays a role in helping the process of absorption of cosmetics into the skin. Not only cosmetics, phthalate is also used as the main ingredient in plastics to increase their flexibility and durability. According to the results of a study, it was found that exposure to phthalate in pregnant women can increase the risk of autism in their children.

In the study, the researchers analysed the data of 2,001 pregnant Canadian women with an average age of 33 years old and were in their first trimester. The researchers collected information through questionnaires, medical history, and blood and urine specimens of participants during pregnancy and afterwards. It was found that there were 11 phthalate monoesters found in participants' urine samples. When their children were 3-4 years old, the researchers conducted neuropsychological and Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) assessments, to observe the characteristic of autism and other social disorders.

The results showed mothers who had higher phthalate concentrations in their bodies were associated with high SRS-2 rates. The higher SRS-2 rate can be associated with autism. Different results were found in women who routinely consumed folic acid (400 mcg) during the first trimester. The researchers found no association with these risks. Folic acid supplements are known to provide a protective effect against phthalate and other hazardous chemical compounds.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Oulhote, Y., Lanphear, B., Braun, J.M., et al (2020). Gestational Exposure to Phthalates and Folic Acid, and Autistic Traits in Canadian Children. Environmental Health Perspectives, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5621.
• Healthline - Chemicals Used in Cosmetics May Be Tied to Increased Risk of Autism (2020). https://www.healthline.com/health-news/prenatal-phthalate-exposure-linked-to-autism-risk, 26 February 2020.