PBDE chemicals may affect childhood behavior

PBDE chemicals may affect childhood behavior


You might not be familiar with the name “polybrominated diphenyl ethers [polly-BRO-minn-aytedd dye-FEEN-uhll EE-thurrz].” But these chemicals are found in a galaxy of consumer products on the market today.

They’re also known as P-B-D-Es. They’re used in plastics, building materials and more. Most notably, P-B-D-Es are used in flame retardants applied to children’s sleepwear.

Prior studies have indicated that P-B-D-E exposure can affect nervous system development during childhood. It’s also believed that exposure can result from contact with household items containing this substance because the P-B-D-E- molecules aren’t always chemically bound to the items containing them.

Understandably, some parents are concerned. And new evidence keeps coming in, suggesting that P-B-D-Es may cause health problems.

For example, there’s a study published recently in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology linking P-B-D-Es and childhood behavior problems.

The study involved about 200 children who had their cord blood analyzed shortly after birth, including screens for seven P-B-D-E chemicals.

Four of the target chemicals were present in 50 percent or more of the cord blood samples.

Researchers tracked the children until age 7. Beginning at age 3 their mothers evaluated their behavior once a year, using a prepared checklist.

At age 4, there was a statistically significant correlation between behavioral problems and high levels of two P-B-D-Es in the cord blood samples.

But by age 6, this correlation was gone.

The sudden disappearance could mean that the effects of P-B-D-Es can be fleeting. It could also mean there was a problem with the experiment.

Whatever the reason, the larger issue of P-B-D-E exposure deserves more attention.

And it’s not likely to disappear.

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