• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Are phthalates in plastics causing a rise in juvenile high blood pressure?

2308459545_60651c90f7_mChildren should not have high blood pressure.  Period.  Sure, teenage life can be stressful, and high blood pressure can be hereditary…but maybe there is another culprit.

According to research conducted earlier this year, phthalates in plastics may be causing a rise in juvenile high blood pressure.

What are phthalates?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes).

Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children’s toys.

How People Are Exposed to Phthalates

People are exposed to phthalates by eating and drinking foods that have been in contact with containers and products containing phthalates. To a lesser extentexposure can occur from breathing in air that contains phthalate vapors or dust contaminated with phthalate particles. Young children may have a greater risk of being exposed to phthalate particles in dust than adults because of their hand-to-mouth behaviors. Once phthalates enter a person’s body, they are converted into breakdown products (metabolites) that pass out quickly in urine.

How Phthalates Affect People’s Health

Human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are unknown. Some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to phthalates.

Levels of Phthalate Metabolites in the U.S. Population

In the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report), CDC scientists measured 13 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 2,636 or more participants aged six years and older who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2003–2004. For several phthalate metabolites, results from the prior survey periods of 1999–2000 and 2001–2002 are also included in the Fourth Report. By measuring phthalate metabolites in urine, scientists can estimate the amount of phthalates that have entered people’s bodies.

 Yikes!  But what about juvenile high blood pressure?
According to Organic Authority:

While most common in people over age 50, 14 percent of obese teenagers now have high blood pressure (as defined as a systolic blood-pressure reading above 140 mm Hg). Largely connected with rising obesity rates  related to diet, chemicals known to disrupt endocrine function, such as phthalates are also playing a significant role, cite the researchers.

“Phthalates can inhibit the function of cardiac cells and cause oxidative stress that compromises the health of arteries. But no one has explored the relationship between phthalate exposure and heart health in children” says lead author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine and population health at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center conclude:
Now, new research published this Wednesday in The Journal of Pediatrics suggests that certain types of phthalates could pose another risk to children: compromised heart health. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of nearly 3,000 children and teens, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Washington and Penn State University School of Medicine, have documented for the first time a connection between dietary exposure to DEHP (di-2-ethyhexylphthalate), a common class of phthalate widely used in industrial food production, and elevated systolic blood pressure, a measure of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

What does this mean?

If you know there are hereditary factors for high blood pressure for your children, like there are for mine, diet (vegetarian) and exercise are key. Avoiding plastics is always a good idea. From BPA to phthalates, plastics are full of chemicals, or chemicals to replace chemicals, that are detrimental to our health.

It is hard to live a plastic free life in this day and age, but once you are aware, you can at least take the steps to eliminate exposure as much as possible.

Image:
Attribution Some rights reserved by thesoftlanding

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« From nappies to sleep: Organic baby balms from Little Green Radicals
Crazy Breastfeeding: Chinese woman breastfeeds on moped »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Plants Over Plastics! Repurpose Compostable Home Products

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

More from the archives!

Chi Chi Amor: Eco-Friendly Kids' Fashion Made From Recycled Traditional Mayan Fabrics

Natural remedies: The power of echinacea in fighting springtime colds and allergies

Luxe Children’s Products: madii & dyl Cleansing Flannel

Eco-Gift Guides for the Green Parent

Kids & Technology: How much screen time is too much?

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

wama hemp underwear

The Most Comfortable Underwear is Made of Hemp: WAMA Review

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Upon seeing a not listed endangered species

Eco-Friendly Backpacks for Back to School

Back to School: Naturally prevent head lice with Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Hair products

flu shot contains mercury

Most Flu Shots Contain Mercury (thimerosal)

Hank D and the Bee: Series Recap

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

December 1, 1955, Rosa refused to move to the back of the bus.

Today, We Honor Rosa Parks and the Unknown that Fight for Civil Rights

Smart Kids Become Vegetarian Adults

Tedx Talks: Susan Linn “Children Play Less Creatively with Media Linked Toys”

Obama Urged by Health Experts: Take Bold Action to Reverse Obesity Epidemic

Valentine’s Day at 40: Money Can’t Buy Me Love

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.