Plastic chemicals linked to millions of Preterm Birth cases and infant deaths
Researchers linking plastic additives to global pregnancy harms say a new analysis ties the chemicals to millions of preterm birth events and thousands of newborn deaths in 2018, a finding that raises fresh concern about everyday phthalates. The study focused on two plasticizers, DEHP and DiNP, and estimates that DEHP exposure may have been associated with roughly 1. 97 million preterm birth cases and about 74, 000 newborn deaths in 2018. The analysis was published in the journal eClinicalMedicine in 2026 and draws on population surveys and earlier studies to map exposure and health outcomes worldwide.
Preterm Birth link and global scale
The authors, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and drawing on work at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, produced the first global estimate linking the plasticizer di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) to preterm birth outcomes. Their calculations use national survey data from regions with available measurements and earlier estimates to fill gaps, projecting exposure across 200 countries and territories for 2018. The team also applied the same method to diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), a common replacement for DEHP. The result: DEHP exposure may have contributed to about 1. 97 million preterm birth cases and an estimated 74, 000 newborn deaths in 2018, and to a large global burden of disability measured as years lived with disability from premature birth.
Immediate reactions
Study lead author Sara Hyman, MS, associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said, “By estimating how much phthalate exposure may contribute to preterm birth worldwide, our findings highlight that reducing exposure, especially in vulnerable regions, could help prevent early births and the health problems that often follow. ” The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences notes that “phthalates are known to interfere with the body’s way of producing hormones, the endocrine system, ” and links these chemicals to developmental, reproductive, brain and immune effects. A March of Dimes report cited in the analysis aligns closely with the global estimate, noting close to 2 million premature births and roughly 74, 000 newborn deaths tied to these exposures in 2018.
Quick context and what’s next
Phthalates such as DEHP and DiNP are used to make plastics flexible and appear in many household products, including some toys, food storage containers, shower curtains, cosmetics, detergents and art supplies; they can enter the body through food, air and dust. Experts note one practical factor: these chemicals have a short half-life and often leave the body within days. Public health guidance in the study and related commentary points to reducing exposure where possible, choosing phthalate-free products, improving indoor ventilation and regular cleaning to reduce dust accumulation.
What comes next is further measurement and policy attention in regions the study identified as bearing the greatest share of harm. The authors’ mapping highlights uneven global burdens that will likely shape follow-up research, targeted exposure monitoring and prevention efforts aimed at cutting the role of phthalates in preterm birth. Continued analysis will be needed to refine estimates and to track whether reduced exposure leads to measurable declines in preterm birth rates and newborn deaths tied to these chemicals.
