The world’s largest architectural model captures New York City in the ’90s
aerodrome finance
The Empire State building stands approximately 15 inches tall, whereas the Statue of Liberty measures at just under two inches without its base. At this scale, even ants would be too big to represent people in the streets below.
These lifelike miniatures of iconic landmarks can be found on the Panorama — which, at 9,335 square feet, is the largest model of New York City, meticulously hand-built at a scale of 1:1,200. The sprawling model sits in its own room at the Queens Museum, where it was first installed in the 1960s, softly rotating between day and night lighting as visitors on glass walkways are given a bird’s eye view of all five boroughs of the city.
To mark the model’s 60th anniversary, which was celebrated last year, the museum has published a new book offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the Panorama was made. Original footage of the last major update to the model, completed in 1992, has also gone on show at the museum as part of a 12-minute video that features interviews with some of the renovators.
The Queens Museum’s assistant director of archives and collections, Lynn Maliszewski, who took CNN on a visit of the Panorama in early March, said she hopes the book and video will help to draw more visitors and attention to the copious amount of labor — over 100 full-time workers, from July 1961 to April 1964 — that went into building the model.
“Sometimes when I walk in here, I get goosebumps, because this is so representative of dreams and hopes and family and struggle and despair and excitement… every piece of the spectrum of human emotion is here (in New York) happening at the same time,” said Maliszewski. “It shows us things that you can’t get when you’re on the ground.”
Original purpose
The Panorama was originally built for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, then the largest international exhibition in the US, aimed at spotlighting the city’s innovation. The fair was overseen by Robert Moses, the influential and notorious urban planner whose highway projects displaced hundreds of thousands New Yorkers. When Moses commissioned the Panorama, which had parts that could be removed and redesigned to determine new traffic patterns and neighborhood designs, he saw an opportunity to use it as a city planning tool.
Originally built and revised with a margin of error under 1%, the model was updated multiple times before the 1990s, though it is now frozen in time. According to Maliszewski, it cost over $672,000 to make in 1964 ($6.8 million in today’s money) and nearly $2 million (about $4.5 million today) was spent when it was last revised in 1992.
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WilliamTab
metamask wallet
A librarian ran off with a yacht captain in the summer of 1968. It was the start of an incredible love story
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The first time Beverly Carriveau saw Bob Parsons, she felt like a “thunderbolt” passed between them.
“This man stepped out of a taxi, and we both just stared at each other,” Beverly tells CNN Travel today. “You have to remember, this is the ‘60s. Girls didn’t stare at men. But it was a thunderbolt.”
It was June 1968. Beverly was a 23-year-old Canadian university librarian on vacation in Mazatlan, Mexico, with a good friend in tow.
Beverly had arrived in Mazatlan that morning. She’d been blown away by the Pacific Ocean views, the colorful 19th-century buildings, the palm trees.
Now, Beverly was browsing the hotel gift store, admiring a pair of earrings, when she looked up and spotted the man getting out of the taxi. The gift shop was facing the parking lot, and there he was.
“I was riveted,” says Beverly. “He was tall, handsome…”
Eventually, Beverly tore away her gaze, bought the earrings and dashed out of the store.
“We locked eyes so long, I was embarrassed,” she says.
No words had passed between them. They hadn’t even smiled at each other. But Beverly felt like she’d revealed something of herself. She felt like something had happened, but she couldn’t describe it.
Beverly rushed to meet her friend, still feeling flustered. Over dinner in the hotel restaurant, Beverly confided in her friend about the “thunderbolt” moment.
“I told my girlfriend, ‘Something just happened to me. I stared at this man, and I couldn’t help myself.’”
Then, the server approached Beverly’s table.
“He said, ‘I have some wine for you, from a man over there.’”
The waiter was holding a bottle of white wine, indicating at the bar, which was packed with people.
As a rule, Beverly avoided accepting drinks from men in bars. She never felt especially comfortable with the power dynamic — plus, she had a long-term partner back in Canada.
“I had a serious boyfriend at home and thought my life was on course,” she says.
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The first time Beverly Carriveau saw Bob Parsons, she felt like a “thunderbolt” passed between them.
“This man stepped out of a taxi, and we both just stared at each other,” Beverly tells CNN Travel today. “You have to remember, this is the ‘60s. Girls didn’t stare at men. But it was a thunderbolt.”
It was June 1968. Beverly was a 23-year-old Canadian university librarian on vacation in Mazatlan, Mexico, with a good friend in tow.
Beverly had arrived in Mazatlan that morning. She’d been blown away by the Pacific Ocean views, the colorful 19th-century buildings, the palm trees.
Now, Beverly was browsing the hotel gift store, admiring a pair of earrings, when she looked up and spotted the man getting out of the taxi. The gift shop was facing the parking lot, and there he was.
“I was riveted,” says Beverly. “He was tall, handsome…”
Eventually, Beverly tore away her gaze, bought the earrings and dashed out of the store.
“We locked eyes so long, I was embarrassed,” she says.
No words had passed between them. They hadn’t even smiled at each other. But Beverly felt like she’d revealed something of herself. She felt like something had happened, but she couldn’t describe it.
Beverly rushed to meet her friend, still feeling flustered. Over dinner in the hotel restaurant, Beverly confided in her friend about the “thunderbolt” moment.
“I told my girlfriend, ‘Something just happened to me. I stared at this man, and I couldn’t help myself.’”
Then, the server approached Beverly’s table.
“He said, ‘I have some wine for you, from a man over there.’”
The waiter was holding a bottle of white wine, indicating at the bar, which was packed with people.
As a rule, Beverly avoided accepting drinks from men in bars. She never felt especially comfortable with the power dynamic — plus, she had a long-term partner back in Canada.
“I had a serious boyfriend at home and thought my life was on course,” she says.
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Douglasrop
UTL Smart Contract
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/do ... 2YffJORAIH" alt="" width="602" height="601"></p><p dir="ltr">Dunia teknologi digital dan instrumen keuangan terus bergerak maju. Sepertinya baru kemarin cryptocurrency menimbulkan keraguan dan ketidakpercayaan, namun hari ini aset digital telah mengambil tempat yang kokoh dalam strategi investasi jutaan orang. Token sederhana dan volatil mulai digantikan oleh alat yang lebih stabil dan didukung oleh mekanisme nyata. Salah satu contoh mencolok adalah token <a href="https://uniteto.live/in">UTLH</a>.<br> Dalam artikel ini, kita akan membahas secara rinci mengapa UTLH menonjol di antara banyak cryptoasset lainnya, keuntungan praktis yang diberikannya kepada orang biasa dan investor, serta mengapa token ini sudah menjadi bagian dari kehidupan puluhan ribu orang di seluruh dunia.</p><p dir="ltr">UTLH — Lebih dari Sekadar Cryptocurrency</p><p dir="ltr">Ciri utama UTLH adalah integrasinya dalam program unik Universitas Bantuan Keuangan Universal (UFA). Program ini bukan hanya cara untuk mendapatkan pinjaman dengan bunga rendah, tetapi merupakan model baru dalam hubungan keuangan, di mana setiap peserta memiliki kesempatan untuk mencapai tujuannya tanpa birokrasi dan risiko yang khas dari sistem perbankan tradisional.<br> Dengan demikian, UTLH bukan lagi aset spekulatif, tetapi alat yang memiliki nilai praktis nyata dan merupakan aset jaminan yang dicari dalam program UFA.</p><p dir="ltr">Keandalan dan Keamanan di Era Ketidakstabilan Global</p><p dir="ltr">Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, kita telah menyaksikan peningkatan inflasi, krisis mata uang nasional, risiko sanksi, dan pembatasan atas pergerakan modal yang bebas. Token UTLH, yang sepenuhnya terdesentralisasi dan dibangun di atas Binance Smart Chain blockchain, tidak terpengaruh oleh risiko dan pembatasan semacam itu.<br> Teknologi blockchain dan kontrak pintar yang transparan memastikan keamanan transaksi, perlindungan data, dan kecepatan tinggi dalam pertukaran token. Dengan demikian, pemilik UTLH dapat yakin bahwa modal mereka terlindungi dan sepenuhnya berada di bawah kontrol mereka.</p><p dir="ltr">Emisi Terbatas — Jaminan Stabilisasi dan Pertumbuhan</p><p dir="ltr">Jumlah token UTLH terbatas dengan ketat — hanya 957.315 token. Angka ini sangat kecil dibandingkan dengan sebagian besar proyek cryptocurrency. Emisi terbatas inilah yang memastikan kekurangan token yang konstan, yang selanjutnya mempengaruhi pertumbuhannya dalam harga.<br> Selain itu, terdapat mekanisme pembakaran token yang semakin mengurangi pasokan di pasar. Sebagai hasilnya, tren stabil menuju peningkatan harga UTLH terbentuk, yang membuat token ini menarik baik untuk investasi jangka pendek maupun untuk menjaga modal dalam jangka panjang.</p><p dir="ltr">Pendapatan Pasif Nyata — Penghasilan Stabil dari Staking</p><p dir="ltr">Salah satu argumen utama mendukung UTLH adalah mekanisme staking yang menguntungkan dan mudah. Setiap pemilik token dapat menghasilkan pendapatan pasif stabil hingga 24% per tahun hanya dengan menempatkan token mereka dalam staking. Sebagai perbandingan, bank-bank saat ini jarang menawarkan hasil lebih dari 5–7% per tahun, dan bahkan hasil ini sering tergerus inflasi.<br> Staking token UTLH merupakan alternatif yang sangat menguntungkan untuk deposito bank dan merupakan alat yang mudah dipahami bahkan untuk pemula yang sebelumnya tidak memiliki pengalaman dalam investasi cryptocurrency.</p><p dir="ltr">Kekuatan Komunitas dan Bantuan Bersama</p><p dir="ltr">Perhatian khusus layak diberikan pada ekosistem yang ada di balik token ini. Komunitas UTL Club, yang sudah beranggotakan lebih dari 160.000 peserta di seluruh dunia, merupakan kumpulan orang yang berusaha mencapai kebebasan finansial, saling mendukung, dan berkembang bersama dalam ide yang sama.<br> Komunitas ini tidak hanya aktif dalam berbagi pengetahuan dan pengalaman, tetapi juga rutin mengadakan program pelatihan dan acara, yang memungkinkan pemula dengan cepat memahami dunia keuangan dan berhasil meningkatkan modal mereka.</p><p dir="ltr">Cerita Perubahan Nyata dalam Hidup</p><p dir="ltr">Di antara peserta klub sudah banyak orang yang, berkat UTLH, telah mengubah hidup mereka secara radikal. Beberapa berhasil membeli apartemen tanpa hipotek yang mahal, beberapa meluncurkan bisnis yang menguntungkan, dan beberapa lainnya hanya memastikan penghasilan pasif tambahan.<br> Contoh-contoh nyata ini membuktikan bahwa UTLH bukan hanya slogan pemasaran yang indah, tetapi alat yang efektif dalam membantu mencapai tujuan yang konkret dan penting.</p><p dir="ltr">Jalan Anda Menuju Kebebasan Finansial dengan UTLH</p><p dir="ltr">Mengapa Anda harus mempertimbangkan token UTLH?</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Kemampuan untuk mendapatkan pendapatan pasif yang stabil mulai hari ini.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Perlindungan terhadap sumber daya keuangan dari inflasi dan ketidakstabilan.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Akses mudah ke pembiayaan yang menguntungkan melalui program UFA.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Kemampuan untuk meningkatkan modal melalui pertumbuhan harga token.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Bergabung dengan komunitas internasional yang kuat dari orang-orang sukses dan ambisius.</p></li></ul><p dir="ltr">Kesimpulan: UTLH — Pendekatan Baru untuk Keuangan Anda</p><p>UTLH menawarkan setiap orang, terlepas dari tingkat pengetahuan dan pengalaman, kesempatan yang mudah, jelas, dan aman untuk mengubah hidup mereka menjadi lebih baik. Token ini mengintegrasikan segala yang dibutuhkan untuk kesuksesan finansial — dari pendapatan yang stabil dan perlindungan modal hingga pembiayaan yang menguntungkan dan dukungan komunitas yang kuat.<br> Di dunia yang terus berubah dan menghadirkan tantangan baru, UTLH adalah kesempatan untuk mengambil kendali masa depan finansial Anda dan membuatnya sukses serta dapat diprediksi.<br> Saatnya untuk meninggalkan rasa takut dan keraguan dan melangkah menuju kesuksesan finansial Anda dengan token UTLH!</p><p dir="ltr"> </p>
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Douglasrop
Программа УФП
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/do ... 2YffJORAIH" alt="" width="602" height="601"></p><p dir="ltr">Le monde moderne change rapidement. Les approches classiques des finances, des investissements et de la conservation du capital ne fonctionnent plus efficacement. Dans ce contexte en constante évolution, de nouveaux outils émergent, capables de résoudre les problèmes qui se posent et de devenir un soutien fiable pour l'avenir financier. L'un de ces outils est le token <a href="https://uniteto.live/fr">UTLH</a>.<br> Dans cet article, nous examinerons UTLH sous un angle totalement nouveau. Nous laisserons de côté les détails techniques et les chiffres, et nous concentrerons sur la philosophie, l'idéologie et l'application pratique du token, qui en font une offre unique sur le marché des crypto-actifs.</p><p dir="ltr">Pourquoi le monde a-t-il besoin du token UTLH ?</p><p dir="ltr">L'argent a cessé d'être simplement un moyen de paiement - il symbolise maintenant la liberté et les opportunités. Les gens du monde entier sont confrontés à des limitations financières, à la bureaucratie, à l'inflation et au contrôle des structures bancaires et de l'État.<br> Dans un contexte d'instabilité mondiale, il existe un besoin urgent d'instruments financiers transparents, honnêtes et protégés, permettant à l'individu de contrôler son bien-être et de gérer lui-même son capital accumulé. C'est précisément un tel instrument qu'est devenu le token UTLH.</p><p dir="ltr">UTLH – Plus qu'un simple argent</p><p dir="ltr">Lorsque le token UTLH a été créé, il reposait sur l'idée de l'indépendance financière et de l'entraide. Ce n'est pas un simple crypto-actif pour des spéculations boursières, mais une philosophie fondamentalement nouvelle. UTLH est inspiré par le désir des gens de se regrouper, de s'entraider et d'atteindre ensemble des objectifs personnels et financiers.<br> UTLH incarne l'idée que le succès n'est pas une question de chance ou de hasard, mais un résultat inévitable de décisions bien prises, de coopération honnête et d'efforts conjoints des membres de la communauté.</p><p dir="ltr">L'écosystème UTLH : une communauté forte et des opportunités réelles</p><p dir="ltr">Le token UTLH a été spécialement créé pour le club international fermé UTL Club. Cependant, sa véritable force réside non pas dans la fermeture, mais dans un modèle particulier d'interaction entre les participants.<br> Chaque détenteur de token ne se contente pas de posséder un actif, il devient membre d'une communauté puissante, où les participants se soutiennent mutuellement et échangent des connaissances. L'effet de cet écosystème est déjà visible dans la vie de nombreuses familles qui ont pu résoudre des problèmes de logement, créer des entreprises ou simplement se protéger de l'inflation.<br> Ainsi, le token UTLH est un instrument qui renforce la communauté et rend chaque participant plus prospère.</p><p dir="ltr">UTLH comme actif de protection à l'ère de l'incertitude</p><p dir="ltr">Dans un contexte de turbulences économiques et de crises géopolitiques, UTLH révèle un autre avantage majeur : la protection contre les risques extérieurs.<br> Le fait que le token soit basé sur la blockchain Binance Smart Chain le protège du contrôle extérieur et de toute restriction. C'est pourquoi de nombreux investisseurs, entrepreneurs et simples citoyens considèrent UTLH non seulement comme un moyen de générer des revenus, mais aussi comme un moyen de préserver et de protéger leurs économies.</p><p dir="ltr">La psychologie du succès : pourquoi les détenteurs de UTLH se sentent-ils plus confiants ?</p><p dir="ltr">En psychologie, il est bien connu que la stabilité financière et la confiance en l'avenir sont des facteurs clés de bien-être et de confort intérieur. La possession de UTLH n'influence pas seulement le portefeuille de son détenteur, mais aussi son état émotionnel.<br> Pourquoi ? Premièrement, le revenu passif généré par le staking du token procure un sentiment de stabilité. Deuxièmement, la possibilité d'utiliser le token dans le programme d'Aide Financière Universelle (UFA) permet aux gens de ne pas s'inquiéter des situations imprévues de la vie. Enfin, la transparence et la prévisibilité du projet donnent à chaque participant un sentiment de contrôle sur sa propre vie.</p><p dir="ltr">L'avenir est déjà arrivé : le potentiel de développement international d'UTLH</p><p dir="ltr">UTLH n'est pas un projet statique, mais une initiative mondiale en développement dynamique. Aujourd'hui, l'équipe du club travaille activement à l'expansion de la géographie et à l'attraction de nouveaux participants à travers le monde.<br> UTLH est parfaitement adapté à l'expansion internationale, car il n'est lié à aucune monnaie nationale ni frontière. Cela crée une base solide pour l'échelle mondiale et renforce le token comme un instrument international de préservation et d'augmentation du capital.</p><p dir="ltr">Quelle est l'utilité pratique d'UTLH pour les gens ordinaires ?</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">La possibilité d'investir et de recevoir un revenu passif stable (24 % par an).</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Un financement avantageux simple et transparent via le programme UFA.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Un stockage fiable du capital sur une blockchain protégée et transparente.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Un sentiment de stabilité financière et de confiance.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Le soutien et l'entraide dans une puissante communauté internationale.</p></li></ul><p dir="ltr">Trois étapes vers la liberté financière avec UTLH</p><p dir="ltr">Pour commencer à utiliser les opportunités du token avec succès, vous devez :</p><ol><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Acquérir des tokens – cela peut être fait simplement et rapidement.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Les mettre en staking – recevez des paiements mensuels sans effort supplémentaire.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Utiliser les tokens dans le programme UFA – si vous avez besoin de fonds pour quelconque objectif.<br> Ainsi, le token UTLH devient un véritable instrument pour l'indépendance financière et la sécurité.</p></li></ol><p dir="ltr">Conclusion : UTLH – une philosophie de liberté et de succès</p><p dir="ltr">UTLH est bien plus qu'un simple token. C'est :</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Une nouvelle manière de penser et d'aborder les finances.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Une possibilité de protéger et d'augmenter son capital sans intermédiaires.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Une communauté de personnes partageant les mêmes idées, qui aspirent à la prospérité ensemble.</p></li></ul><p>Un instrument financier efficace et transparent, parfaitement adapté à la résolution des problèmes de la vie quotidienne.<br> En investissant dans UTLH, vous investissez dans votre avenir, votre confiance, votre protection et votre liberté.<br> Rejoignez la communauté UTL Club et commencez à utiliser les opportunités du token UTLH dès aujourd'hui !<br> Votre avenir mérite d'être brillant et prospère – avec UTLH, c'est possible.</p><p dir="ltr"> </p>
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Exposure to phthalates during pregnancy can affect a newborn’s brain development, study finds
гей порно парни
Phthalates — the synthetic chemicals used in everyday products for food packaging, personal care, toys and more — have been linked to abnormal neurological development in infants.
Now, scientists may have discovered a biological pathway for how this phenomenon could occur. Researchers found that in utero exposure to phthalates is linked with altered metabolism of neurotransmitters and amino acids involved in brain maturation, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications.
The report is the first to use untargeted metabolomics — the study of all small molecules or metabolites in a biological system — to connect a mother’s phthalate exposure to a newborn’s metabolites, and those metabolites to neurological development, said senior study author Dr. Donghai Liang via email.
“This represents an important step forward in understanding how prenatal chemical exposures shape infant development at the molecular level,” added Liang, an associate professor of environmental health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta.
First introduced in the 1920s, phthalates are used to make plastics softer and more flexible, primarily in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products such as vinyl flooring, medical devices, children’s toys, food packaging or shower curtains. The chemicals also help lubricate substances and carry fragrances in various personal care products including deodorant; nail polish; perfumes; hair gels, sprays or shampoos; soaps; and body lotions.
Phthalates are also endocrine disruptors that have been linked to preterm birth, infant genital abnormalities, childhood obesity, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular issues, and low sperm count and testosterone in men.
“We conducted this study because phthalates are everywhere in our daily lives,” Liang said, hence their nickname “everywhere chemicals.”
Harming infant health
The findings are based on mother-newborn pairs enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort between 2016 and 2018. In urine samples collected from 216 mothers between eight weeks and 14 weeks of gestation at visit one and 145 participants between 24 and 30 weeks’ gestation at visit two, the authors measured eight phthalate metabolites. Participants were around age 24 on average, and their levels of some phthalate metabolites were higher than the average determined by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Within a day or two of birth, the authors collected the babies’ blood via a heel stick.
The team found prenatal phthalate levels were associated with lower levels of tyrosine, an amino acid and precursor to the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine was also abnormally low in those with in utero phthalate exposure, and low thyroxine has been previously associated with greater vulnerability to illness and neurodevelopmental issues in newborns, the authors said. Tyrosine is also a precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, all of which partly contribute to the body’s fight-or-flight response. Low levels of these neurotransmitters can lead to various problems, including anxiety, depression and trouble focusing.
Prenatal phthalate exposure was also linked with lower levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan (or 5-HTP), which then turns into serotonin. Both 5-HTP and serotonin were also low. Serotonin has several critical roles in the body, including mood regulation, sleep, learning, memory, digestion and the body’s response to stress. Previous research has linked low serotonin with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, sleep problems, and digestive issues.
гей порно парни
Phthalates — the synthetic chemicals used in everyday products for food packaging, personal care, toys and more — have been linked to abnormal neurological development in infants.
Now, scientists may have discovered a biological pathway for how this phenomenon could occur. Researchers found that in utero exposure to phthalates is linked with altered metabolism of neurotransmitters and amino acids involved in brain maturation, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications.
The report is the first to use untargeted metabolomics — the study of all small molecules or metabolites in a biological system — to connect a mother’s phthalate exposure to a newborn’s metabolites, and those metabolites to neurological development, said senior study author Dr. Donghai Liang via email.
“This represents an important step forward in understanding how prenatal chemical exposures shape infant development at the molecular level,” added Liang, an associate professor of environmental health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta.
First introduced in the 1920s, phthalates are used to make plastics softer and more flexible, primarily in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products such as vinyl flooring, medical devices, children’s toys, food packaging or shower curtains. The chemicals also help lubricate substances and carry fragrances in various personal care products including deodorant; nail polish; perfumes; hair gels, sprays or shampoos; soaps; and body lotions.
Phthalates are also endocrine disruptors that have been linked to preterm birth, infant genital abnormalities, childhood obesity, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular issues, and low sperm count and testosterone in men.
“We conducted this study because phthalates are everywhere in our daily lives,” Liang said, hence their nickname “everywhere chemicals.”
Harming infant health
The findings are based on mother-newborn pairs enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child Cohort between 2016 and 2018. In urine samples collected from 216 mothers between eight weeks and 14 weeks of gestation at visit one and 145 participants between 24 and 30 weeks’ gestation at visit two, the authors measured eight phthalate metabolites. Participants were around age 24 on average, and their levels of some phthalate metabolites were higher than the average determined by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Within a day or two of birth, the authors collected the babies’ blood via a heel stick.
The team found prenatal phthalate levels were associated with lower levels of tyrosine, an amino acid and precursor to the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine was also abnormally low in those with in utero phthalate exposure, and low thyroxine has been previously associated with greater vulnerability to illness and neurodevelopmental issues in newborns, the authors said. Tyrosine is also a precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, all of which partly contribute to the body’s fight-or-flight response. Low levels of these neurotransmitters can lead to various problems, including anxiety, depression and trouble focusing.
Prenatal phthalate exposure was also linked with lower levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan (or 5-HTP), which then turns into serotonin. Both 5-HTP and serotonin were also low. Serotonin has several critical roles in the body, including mood regulation, sleep, learning, memory, digestion and the body’s response to stress. Previous research has linked low serotonin with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, sleep problems, and digestive issues.