"Phthalate Exposure In NICUs Tied To Altered Neurobehavioral Performance In Neonates" - Marilynn Larkin
Exposure to phthalates in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is associated with alterations in attention and social response that could lead to neurobehavioral problems in childhood, researchers in New York City suggest. “Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. Although their mechanism of action in relation to behavioral outcomes is not definitively known, in vitro studies show that phthalates interact with sex receptors in the brain known to impact behavioral function,” said Annemarie Stroustrup, MD, acting chief in the division of newborn medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital and director of newborn services for the Mount Sinai Health System. “Infants with higher phthalate exposure in our study demonstrated improved or more mature behavioral performance,” she said. “Taken at face value, this could be seen as a positive outcome, particularly in the short-term.” The team’s next steps include “evaluating the long-term neurobehavioral impact of NICU-based phthalate exposure beyond infancy; identifying the specific source(s) of the concerning phthalate mixtures identified in the present study; and confirming the findings in a larger, more nationally representative population,” Dr. Stroustrup concluded.
- Annemarie Stroustrup, MD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Acting Chief, Division of Newborn Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Director, Newborn Services, Mount Sinai Health System