Study links plastic chemicals to newborn deaths

Chemicals commonly used to make plastics more flexible have been linked to nearly two million premature births and the deaths of around 74,000 newborns worldwide, according to a new study.

The research highlights the potential dangers of two widely used substances, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP, both of which belong to a group of synthetic chemicals known as phthalates)

Phthalates are used in a range of everyday products to increase flexibility and durability but are known to interfere with the body’s endocrine system, which regulates hormone production.

Experts say even small disruptions to this system can have significant developmental and biological effects.

The study found a strong association between exposure to these chemicals and premature births, defined as babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Premature birth can lead to serious health complications, including breathing difficulties, developmental delays, and long-term neurological conditions.

Lead researcher Dr Leonardo Trasande, a professor of paediatrics and population health at New York University, described phthalates as “a dangerous class of chemicals”.

He said the findings highlight the need for greater scrutiny of substances commonly used in plastics, particularly as countries seek to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Dr Trasande said these data further support efforts to negotiate a plastic treaty that limits chemicals of concern commonly used in plastics. 

Health authorities, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have previously warned that babies born prematurely face a higher risk of long-term health issues, including cerebral palsy, vision and hearing impairments, and feeding difficulties.

However, industry representatives have pushed back on the findings.

The American Chemistry Council’s High Phthalates Panel said the US Environmental Protection Agency had conducted a comprehensive risk evaluation of DiNP and concluded it does not pose an “unreasonable risk” to human health or the environment.

The council did not comment on DEHP.

Source: BBC News