Exposure to select parabens was associated with a greater number of emergency department visits for boys with asthma, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Investigators sought to explore current concerns about possible associations between the antimicrobial- and endocrine-disrupting properties of parabens (synthetic preservatives that are present in many consumer products) and their role in pediatric respiratory and allergic disorders.
A significant effect modification by sex for ED visits in the prior 12 months was observed in boys with asthma for both methyl and propyl paraben levels. In fact, for every 10-fold rise in methyl and propyl concentrations, there was a 2.61 and a 2.18 increased prevalence odds ratio, respectively, of reporting an ED visit in the last 12 months in boys with current asthma.
