"Everywhere chemical" phthalates may increase the risk of cancer in children

In an unprecedented study, the University of Vermont Cancer Center found that phthalates (commonly known as "ubiquitous chemical") are associated with the high incidence rate of specific cancers in children

Phthalate is a chemical additive used to improve the durability or consistency of plastics and various consumer goods. When these compounds penetrate into the environment from products, humans will often be exposed to these compounds. They are also used as inactive ingredients in some drugs, especially those that need to prolong or delay the release of drugs to work properly, such as some anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.

This study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, shows that exposure to drug-related phthalates may promote the development of some childhood cancers, and reducing exposure to phthalates may help prevent some childhood cancers in the future.

This study measured the association between exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and childhood and the incidence rate of childhood cancer. Lead researcher Dr. Thomas Ahern, master of public health, associate professor of Larner School of medicine, University of Vermont, and colleagues from Aarhus University and Odense University Hospital in Denmark conducted the study. Using data from the Danish Medical Birth Registry, the Danish drug administration and the Danish Cancer Registry, researchers studied all live births between 1997 and 2017, totaling nearly 1.3 million children. These data are supported by the Danish universal health care system.

In 2027 cases of childhood cancer, researchers measured the association between exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and childhood and specific cancer incidence rate.

Exposure to phthalates in childhood, rather than pregnancy (in utero), is associated with a 20% increase in the overall incidence rate of childhood cancer, a nearly threefold increase in the probability of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and a twofold increase in the probability of being diagnosed with lymphoma (blood cancer).

Ahern said: "more and more evidence shows that these ubiquitous chemicals have a negative impact on human health, and these results further prove this."

"Our study describes the exposure of phthalates based on drug prescriptions containing phthalates. Although this exposure is usually much higher than what we call 'background' environmental exposure, our findings deserve attention."

Dr. Francis Carr, a member of the cancer center, a researcher of the American Association for the advancement of Science (AAAS) and a professor at the Lana School of medicine at the University of Virginia, pointed out that phthalates are now considered endocrine disruptors because they interfere with the hormone system and may affect thyroid function. "Although more research is needed, exposure to phthalates is associated with thyroid, breast and other solid tumors. Phthalates, like other plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA), are ubiquitous in the environment; age of exposure and chronic low-dose exposure are major risk factors for adverse health effects," Karl said.

Randall Holcombe, M.D., director of the Virginia State University Cancer Center, and master of business administration, said, "although there is no direct link between phthalates and increased cancer risk in our region, this study emphasizes the importance of environmental exposure and its relationship with cancer risk." The authors of this study suggest that future studies will explore which specific phthalates (or combinations of phthalates) pose the greatest risk, and what mechanisms phthalates may increase the risk of osteosarcoma and lymphoma. "Ultimately, such research will lead to a better understanding of how to mitigate the risk of environmental phthalates," Holcomb said.

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