‘Everywhere Chemical’: How Phthalate Exposure Potentially Increase Risk of Childhood Cancer

A study recently suggested that exposure to medication-associated phthalates may add to the development of certain childhood cancers and that minimizing exposure to phthalates may help prevent some childhood cancers later on.

As indicated in a EurekAlert! report, in first-of-its-kind research, a study from the University of Vermont Cancer Center has linked phthalates, commonly termed "everywhere chemical," to a higher occurrence of specific childhood centers.

Essentially, phthalates are chemical additives used to enhance the durability or consistency of plastics and an array of consumer products. Humans are exposed routinely to the said compounds when they leach out of the products and into the environment.

They are also used as inactive ingredients in certain medications, particularly those that need extended or delayed release of drugs to work properly, such as some inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

Link Between Phthalate Exposures and Childhood Cancer

The study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute measured the link between gestational childhood phthalate exposure and the occurrence of childhood cancer.

Thomas Ahern, Ph.D., MPH, the study's lead investigator and associate professor at the University of Vermont's Larner College of Medicine, collaborated with colleagues at Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital in Denmark.

Utilizing data from the Danish Medical Birth Registry, the Danish Medicines Agency, and the Danish Cancer Registry, all backed by the country's universal healthcare system, researchers examined all live births from 1997 to 2017, totaling almost 1.3 million children.

Out of more than 2,000 cases of childhood cancer, the study authors measured the link between gestational and childhood phthalate exposure and the occurrence of specific cancers.

Adverse Effect on Human Health

Results of the study showed that childhood, although not gestational in utero phthalate exposure was linked to a 20-percent higher rate of childhood cancer overall, with an almost three-fold higher rate of osteosarcoma diagnosis, a bone cancer, and a two-fold higher rate of cancer of the blood also known as lymphoma.

Ahem explained that these results contribute to a growing body of evidence that suggests that these ubiquitous chemicals negatively affect human health.

A similar Bioengineer.org report specified that the lead investigator also said their research characterized phthalate exposure according to prescriptions for phthalate-containing drugs.

Whereas such exposures are usually much higher magnitude than what they would call "background environment exposure," his findings warrant concern.

Endocrine Disruptors

Frances Carr, Ph.D., fellow Cancer Center member, American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow, and UVM Larner College of Medicine professor noted that phthalates are now recognized endocrine disruptors as they interfere with the hormonal system and may impact thyroid function. Even though more studies are needed, phthalate exposure has been associated with thyroid, breast, and other solid tumors.

More so, phthalates such as plasticizers like bisphenol A or BPA are ubiquitous in the environment; the age of exposure and chronic low dose exposure is substantial risk factors for negative health effects, Carr said.

According to UVM Cancer Center director Randall Holcombe, MD, MBA, while no direct correlation has been made between phthalates in the region and increased risk of cancer, this research underscores the significance of environmental exposures and their link to cancer risk.

The study's authors suggested that future research will explore which particular phthalate or combination of phthalates poses the greater risk and what mechanisms phthalates might drive the risk of lymphoma or osteosarcoma. Eventually, Holcombe explained, research like this will result in a better insight into how to mitigate the risks of environmental phthalates.

Related information about phthalates is shown on Doctor Mike Hansen's YouTube video below:

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