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| Hairspray linked to birth defect | Hairspray linked to birth defect |
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| Boys born to women exposed to hairspray in the workplace may have a higher risk of being born with a genital defect. | Boys born to women exposed to hairspray in the workplace may have a higher risk of being born with a genital defect. |
| Imperial College London scientists talked to women who had babies with hypospadias, where the urinary tract is found away from the penis. | Imperial College London scientists talked to women who had babies with hypospadias, where the urinary tract is found away from the penis. |
| They reported that hairspray exposure more than doubled the risk. | They reported that hairspray exposure more than doubled the risk. |
| The study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, said it was too early to say for certain that hairspray was the cause. | The study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, said it was too early to say for certain that hairspray was the cause. |
| Pregnant women will need to make their own choices about whether or not to avoid these kind of exposures Professor Paul ElliottImperial College London | Pregnant women will need to make their own choices about whether or not to avoid these kind of exposures Professor Paul ElliottImperial College London |
| The incidence of hypospadias has risen sharply in recent decades, and some experts have pointed the finger of suspicion at chemicals called phthalates, found in some plastics, including those found in hairspray. | The incidence of hypospadias has risen sharply in recent decades, and some experts have pointed the finger of suspicion at chemicals called phthalates, found in some plastics, including those found in hairspray. |
| Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones, and have been banned in toys in the EU for some years. | Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones, and have been banned in toys in the EU for some years. |
| However, no study has found a convincing link between women exposed to them and problems in their children. | However, no study has found a convincing link between women exposed to them and problems in their children. |
| The latest study looks not at personal use of hairsprays, but at their use, potentially in higher doses, by workers such as hairdressers and beauty therapists. | The latest study looks not at personal use of hairsprays, but at their use, potentially in higher doses, by workers such as hairdressers and beauty therapists. |
| A total of 471 women whose babies had been born with hypospadias were interviewed, as were a similar number of women with unaffected children. | A total of 471 women whose babies had been born with hypospadias were interviewed, as were a similar number of women with unaffected children. |
| Roughly double the number of women in the "hypospadias" group revealed that they had been exposed to hairspray through their job compared with those with unaffected babies. | Roughly double the number of women in the "hypospadias" group revealed that they had been exposed to hairspray through their job compared with those with unaffected babies. |
| No proof | |
| However, Professor Paul Elliott, who led the study, said that the finding did not prove that hairspray - or any phthalates it contained - was the cause of this. | However, Professor Paul Elliott, who led the study, said that the finding did not prove that hairspray - or any phthalates it contained - was the cause of this. |
| He said: "Women shouldn't be alarmed. This study adds a bit more evidence to the general picture about these chemicals, but more research will be needed to demonstrate that the link exists. | He said: "Women shouldn't be alarmed. This study adds a bit more evidence to the general picture about these chemicals, but more research will be needed to demonstrate that the link exists. |
| "Pregnant women will need to make their own choices about whether or not to avoid these kind of exposures." | "Pregnant women will need to make their own choices about whether or not to avoid these kind of exposures." |
| Vivienne Parry, author of The Truth about Hormones, expressed concerns about the methods used in the study. | |
| She said: "If this were a study only of hairdressers, whose occupation exposes them to hairspray on a regular basis, then I would be a lot more convinced than I am by a study that has asked people of different occupations and lifestyles to recall their exposure levels." | |
| Another finding of the study provides further backing of the government's recommendation that pregnant women should take extra folate to prevent similar defects to hypospadias, which arise early in pregnancy. | Another finding of the study provides further backing of the government's recommendation that pregnant women should take extra folate to prevent similar defects to hypospadias, which arise early in pregnancy. |
| Women who took folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy were a third less likely to have a baby with hypospadias, according to the study. | Women who took folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy were a third less likely to have a baby with hypospadias, according to the study. |