| Ilena Rose 2005-08-06, 5:55 pm |
| Common Chemical Ingredient May Trigger Lupus
Contributed by Tom Harrison| 29 July, 2005 01:07 GMT
Note from Ilena: This is one of the issues the
ACSH.org/junkscience.com and their quacky front groups have been
spreading disinformtation about for years:
http://health.dailynewscentral.com/...01381&Itemid=31
With several US senators calling for changes in the way chemicals are
regulated in the US marketplace to better protect children, workers
and consumers, new research heightens concerns about a common chemical
found in everyday plastics.
Phthalates -- chemical compounds found in many plastics and beauty
products -- may trigger lupus, suggests an Indiana State University
study published in the July issue of the Journal of Autoimmunity.
The finding comes on the heels of research linking phthalates to
reproductive abnormalities in humans. Male babies of pregnant women
who used beauty products containing phthalates were found to have
smaller genitals, according to recent research at the university of
Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Researchers in Indiana State’s life sciences department found that
injecting mice with phthalates triggered lupus, caused development of
glomerulonephritis, and considerably shortened the lifespans of mice
that had a genetic disposition to the disease. However, the injections
did not have the same effect in mice that were not predisposed to
lupus.
Lupus More Common in Women
“Our findings clearly show that lupus can be caused by an
environmental factor like phthalate, which is present in toys, in many
other plastic products -- including PVC pipes and medical devices --
and in beauty products,” said Swapan K. Ghosh, professor and interim
chair of life sciences.
In lupus, the immune system attacks its own body’s tissues as though
they were foreign substances. The disease can lead to problems with
the heart, kidneys, lungs or blood cells.
"Lupus-type auto-immunity is five times more common in women than in
men," said So-Yon Lim, who worked with Ghosh on the study while
completing a PhD in life sciences at Indiana State. "Is that because
women use a lot more cosmetics and perfumes than men?" she speculated.
Genetic Testing?
While studies of the lupus-associated anti-DNA antibody have been
limited to mice, there are indications humans also could be
susceptible, Ghosh said.
"The antibody that is produced in response to injection of phthalate
compounds actually has reactivity to self DNA. Some human blood
cell-types are also potentially susceptible, but further study is
required," he said.
Given the widespread use of phthalates, more extensive research is
warranted, with particular attention to the prevalence of lupus in
areas where plastics and beauty products are manufactured, Ghosh said.
"We want to find out whether this really is a matter of great
potential health hazard or whether it is something that could be
moderated," he noted, suggesting genetic testing one day might be
required for workers in the plastics industry.
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