Pregnant women exposed to hairspray at work double chances of genital defect in boys



A link between hairspray and a genital defect in boys has been uncovered by scientists.

Researchers found that women exposed to hairspray in the workplace during early pregnancy more than double their chances of giving birth to a son with hypospadias.

The defect normally affects around one in 250 boys in the UK, causing the urinary opening to be shifted beneath the penis.

Pregnant women exposed to hairspray, for instance around the workplace, have double the chance of giving birth to a boy with genital defects

Although it can be corrected by surgery before a boy's first birthday, more severe cases can lead to urinary, sexual and fertility problems.

Hormone-disrupting hairspray chemicals called phthalates, which can affect reproductive development, are believed to be behind the connection.

But the same study showed that taking folic acid reduces the risk of giving birth to a child with the condition by 36 per cent.

An increased risk was only seen in women whose jobs led to high exposure to hairspray chemicals, such as hairdressers, beauty therapists, research chemists and factory workers.

The link was made after researchers conducted detailed interviews with 471 women whose sons had been referred to surgeons for hypospadias, and 490 'control' mothers of boys not born with the defect.

The women lived across 120 London boroughs and local authority districts.

They were asked a range of detailed questions about health, lifestyle and occupation, covering topics such as smoking habits, diet, possible exposure to 26 different chemical substances, and use of folic acid (folate) supplements.

Exposure to hairspray in the first three months of pregnancy increased the chances of having a son with hypospadias two-to-three-fold. The risk was reduced by taking folate supplements over the same period.

Professor Paul Elliott, from Imperial College London, who led the research, said: 'Hypospadias is a condition that, if left untreated, can cause problems in later life. Although surgery to correct it is usually successful, any surgery will be traumatic for the child and his parents.

'It is encouraging that our study showed that taking folic acid supplements in pregnancy may reduce the risk of a child being born with the condition. Further research is needed to understand better why women exposed to hairspray at work in the first three months of pregnancy may have increased risk of giving birth to a boy with hypospadias.'

The Department of Health recommends that mothers-to-be take folate supplements up until the 12th week of pregnancy to prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.

Earlier studies had suggested that hypospadias might be linked to vegetarianism, but this was not born out by the new findings.

Phthalates are found in many cosmetic products, including deodorants, perfumes, and nail varnish, as well as hairspray.

They are also used in adhesives and paints, and added to plastics to make them more flexible.

Research has shown that high exposure to phthalates alters hormone levels and causes birth defects in rodents.

A 2005 study showed that women exposed to the chemicals in pregnancy were up to seven times more likely to give birth to boys with a shortened 'anogenital distance' - the distance between the anus and penis. A reduced anogenital distance is seen as a sign of male feminisation.

The use of phthalates in children's toys has been restricted in the European Union since 1999.