Hormone-disrupting chemicals found in plastics and cosmetics may have been linked to nearly 56,000 preterm births that took place in the U.S. in 2018, new research suggests.
The researchers extrapolated that number from an analysis of data from more than 5,000 pregnant U.S. women. It suggests that exposure to phthalates — chemicals widely used in personal care products like nail polishes and hair sprays, as well as in food packaging — is associated with an increased risk of premature birth and a lower-than-average birth weight.
