WASHINGTON (AFP) – Babies who are exposed before birth to ethyl benzene, a toxic component in crude oil, may have a higher risk of developing congenital heart disease, US researchers said Saturday.
Another chemical used as an industrial metal degreasing agent, trichloroethylene (TCE), also boosted heart risks, said the research to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.
Congenital heart disease occurs when the heart is malformed before birth, and is the most common of all birth defects. Previous studies have suggested it could be caused by chemicals in the environment.
“Congenital heart disease is a major cause of childhood death and life-long health problems,” said D. Gail McCarver, lead author of the study and professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“Thus, identifying risk factors contributing to CHD is important to public health.”
Researchers collected stool samples from 135 newborn babies with the heart condition and 432
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