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Baby Bottle Chemicals Linked to Child Behavior?
10 Dec
Summary
- Chemicals BPS and methylparaben exposure during pregnancy linked to behavior.
- Associations between chemicals and behavior appeared to differ by sex.
- Experts caution findings show association, not direct causation.
A recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health indicates a potential association between everyday plastic chemicals and behavioral development in young children. Scientists examined pregnant women in France and Spain, analyzing urine samples for bisphenol S (BPS) and methylparaben – chemicals often used as alternatives to BPA.
Higher levels of these compounds during pregnancy were linked to subtle differences in children's emotional and behavioral development between 18 and 24 months old. The study noted a potentially stronger connection between BPS exposure and behavioral scores in male infants, though the authors stressed these findings highlight potential connections rather than definitive proof of causation.
Independent experts advise interpreting these results cautiously, pointing out that observed associations do not confirm direct causality. They also noted limitations in the study's sample size and the need to consider numerous other factors influencing child behavior. Nonetheless, the research contributes to ongoing scrutiny of chemicals used as replacements for BPA.
