According to a recent study, chemicals regularly used in plastic found in food containers, lotion, and various products are associated with tens of thousands of premature births in the U.S. annually. The study also states that these babies’ medical expenses over the course of their lives amount to billions. Researchers from the Lancet Planetary Health study, published on Tuesday, scrutinized the daily exposure to phthalates, synthetic chemicals used in everyday items, by examining national data on 5,000 mothers. The study suggests an elevated risk of preterm birth, a situation that has been increasing in the U.S. The U.S. is one of the leading producers of phthalates, with millions of tons manufactured annually, and these chemicals are commonly found in household items, from toys to Tupperware. They are primarily used to enhance the durability, flexibility, and luster of plastics and are prevalent in food production as well. Despite the regulation of these chemicals, the findings demonstrate the continuing harm caused by these products. The study indicates that replacement chemicals introduced by the chemical companies may be equally harmful, yet they remain understudied. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the lead author of the study, believes that these developments have worsened the problem instead of providing a real solution for safeguarding the public from plastic-related health risks. He emphasized the need to put an end to global plastic pollution. Another study by Trasande, published earlier this year, revealed that plastic exposure brought about approximately $249 billion in disease costs in the U.S. in 2018, excluding the costs associated with premature births. He pointed out that the chemical industry is profiting at the expense of increased disease and disability, leaving the public to bear the financial burden. The new study is an observational one and does not conclusively prove the causal impact of plastics on premature birth. However, independent scientists have attested that it complements the existing evidence and presents new discoveries about the chemical substitutes employed to bypass regulations. Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of Boston College’s Program for Global Health and the Common Good, stressed the pressing need for a fundamental overhaul of chemical regulation in the U.S. in order to protect human health. The American Chemistry Council, representing the plastics industry, highlighted that although a link between plastics and related health outcomes has been established, it does not prove that plastic is the cause of these outcomes. The council stated that demonstrating an association does not equate to establishing a causal relationship and expressed doubts about the scientific quality, credibility, and reliability of such studies. The new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, drew from the NIH’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program between 1998 and 2022. The research is notable for its large national sample size and diversity, with approximately 24% of the mothers in the study being non-Hispanic Black, 25% Hispanic or Latino, and 43% non-Hispanic white. Most of the mothers were between 25 and 34 years old, and nearly half had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally, 6% reported smoking during pregnancy. Phthalates can enter the body through the skin, ingestion, or inhalation and disrupt hormones that function as chemical messengers, according to Landrigan. In pregnant women, this can influence hormone regulation as the child develops. Established phthalates such as di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) have been subject to regulation due to their known hazards to human health. However, the phthalates used as replacements for DEHP have not been studied to the same extent. The study identified a link between the presence of phthalates and deviations in gestational age, birth length, and birthweight. In 2018 alone, the researchers estimated that over 56,000 premature births in the U.S. were attributable to phthalate exposure in the womb, with estimated costs over those children’s lifetimes ranging from at least $1.6 billion to potentially $8.1 billion, factoring in lost economic productivity and additional healthcare expenses. While premature births may entail significant costs, it’s crucial to recognize the far-reaching impact on families. Carmen Messerlian, a professor of reproductive epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized that babies born prematurely are at a higher risk of mortality, and children may face disabilities or disorders later in life. Black and Hispanic women are at a greater risk of exposure to phthalates and consequently at a higher risk of experiencing preterm birth, as reflected in the new study. Messerlian stressed that the solution to this issue is clear: there is a modifiable environmental cause of premature birth that has been identified, which requires action to reduce women’s risk of giving birth prematurely. Dr. Trasande recommended that parents minimize the use of packaged goods, opt for glass or stainless steel for storing food, and prepare fresh food to limit plastic usage as much as possible. Eduardo Cuevas reports on health and breaking news for USA TODAY and can be contacted at EMCuevas1@usatoday.com.
