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There may be a link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and phthalates, a substance used in plastics, researchers in South Korea said.
The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, found a significant positive association between phthalate exposure and ADHD. Senior author Yun-Chul Hong and colleagues at the Seoul National University College of Medicine said the higher the concentration of phthalate metabolites in the urine, the worse the ADHD symptoms and/or test scores.
The researchers used teacher reports as well as computerized tests to evaluate children for symptoms of ADHD that include impulsivity and a lack of attention. The researchers also analyzed the children's urine and measured the concentrations of phtalates -- a family of chemical compounds used as plasticizers to soften vinyl.
"The data represents the first documented association between phthalate exposure and ADHD symptoms in school-aged children," Hong said in a statement.
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