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Plastic additives tied to millions of preterm births worldwide
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-plastic-additives-millions-preterm-births.htmlNYU Langone Health
Aggregate DEHP-attributable PTB morbidity and mortality world maps among eight world regions. Credit: eClinicalMedicine (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103842
Exposure to a chemical commonly used to make plastic more flexible may have contributed to about 1.97 million preterm births in 2018 alone, or more than 8% of the world's total, a new analysis of population surveys shows. The chemical was also linked to the deaths of 74,000 newborns, the researchers further estimate.
The toxin, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), is part of a group of chemicals called phthalates, which appear in cosmetics, detergents, bug repellents, and other household products. Experts have found that these substances can break down into microscopic particles and enter the body through food, air, and dust.
Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the new study focused on preterm birth, which is a major risk factor for lasting learning and developmental issues and is a leading cause of infant death, according to the World Health Organization.
The new analysis provides the first global estimate of preterm births connected to exposure to DEHP and explores which parts of the world are most affected, according to the authors. A report on the findings was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.
. . .
The toxin, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), is part of a group of chemicals called phthalates, which appear in cosmetics, detergents, bug repellents, and other household products. Experts have found that these substances can break down into microscopic particles and enter the body through food, air, and dust.
Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the new study focused on preterm birth, which is a major risk factor for lasting learning and developmental issues and is a leading cause of infant death, according to the World Health Organization.
The new analysis provides the first global estimate of preterm births connected to exposure to DEHP and explores which parts of the world are most affected, according to the authors. A report on the findings was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.
. . .