Attention Worthy: Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Subsequent ADHD Diagnosis.

Abstract

Open in a separate window Exposure to phthalates, a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in plastics manufacture, is ubiquitous.1 Some research suggests that phthalates may adversely affect neurodevelopment,2,3,4 potentially increasing the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).5,6 A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that prenatal exposure to certain phthalate metabolites was associated with increased odds of clinically confirmed ADHD in a group of 3-year-old children.7 Originally, phthalate research focused on reproductive end points, owing to the similarity between these chemicals and the steroidal hormones that control reproductive tract development and function. However, epidemiological studies have also reported associations between phthalate exposure and behaviors linked to ADHD, although the findings have been inconsistent.6,8,9,10,11,12 Open in a separate window More than 5% of children in the United States have ADHD, a disorder characterized by impaired focus and working memory. Improved diagnosis may partly, but not entirely, explain recent increases in prevalence of the disorder, which appears to have both genetic and environmental underpinnings.14 Image: © gali estrange/Shutterstock.