Study: Chemicals In Our Food Packaging Are Lowing Our IQ

New research is showing that kids who were exposed to phthalates while in utero are more likely to have lowered IQs than children not exposed by the age of 7-years-old. Pregnant women exposed to two common household chemicals, di-n-butyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate had children whose IQs were measured on average at 6 points lower than children not exposed. These chemicals are commonly found in food packaging.

Researchers followed 328 inner-city mothers and their children, born between 1998 and 2006. Urine samples were taken from the mothers during the last trimester of their pregnancies to measure phthalate count, and the children were interviewed to establish IQ at 3, 5, and 7.

The results? Children of mothers exposed during pregnancy to the highest 25% of concentrations had IQs 6.6 to 7.6 points lower than children exposed to the lowest 25% of concentrations. Phthalates are a class of high production chemicals that are widely used as plasticizers and can be found in a ton of consumer products, like personal care items. They’re known endocrine disruptors and can disrupt the healthy flow of thyroid hormones, testosterone, and dopamine. The latter explains the influx of inattention and hyperactivity in children.

Phthalates are most commonly found in soft plastics and scented products like dryer sheets and recyclable plastics numbered 3, 6 and 7.

It’s pretty terrifying to consider that these chemicals are being delivered straight to our mouths. It makes you wonder if it was either a severe oversight on the part of government and corporations or something worse.

Image credit: I-5 Design & Manufacture, Flickr