Chemicals commonly found in sunscreen, makeup and other personal care products could be putting pregnancies at risk, a new study warns. Phenols and parabens in these products increase a pregnant woman's risk of by 57%, particularly at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, researchers Aug. 14 in the journal .
"We found chemicals in everyday soaps, lotions, makeup, sunscreen and other and consumer products [that] increased risk of hypertension" among a study group of in Puerto Rico, said study lead researcher Julia Varshavsky. She's an assistant professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston. Phenols and parabens are used as UV filters in sunscreens, and to prevent the growth of harmful mold and bacteria in makeup and cosmetics, researchers said.
Parabens alone are used in about 80% of personal care products, the research team said in background notes. Phenols' and parabens' link to hypertension in pregnancy is troubling. High blood pressure during pregnancy reduces to the placenta, so the fetus might wind up starved of oxygen and nutrients.
As a result, the fetus might suffer from restricted growth, and premature birth, the researchers explained. It's dangerous for expecting moms as well, increasing their risk of complications like preeclampsia and stroke. Both mother and child also have an increased likelihood that they will suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease long after pregnancy.
Looking at chemicals in personal care products "is really imp.