Researchers looked at many chemicals that pregnant people meet every day. They found that the chemicals might change when a baby is born and how much the baby weighs.
The work was done by scientists from UNC, Stanford and the Woods Institute. Their results were printed in JAMA Network Open.
On average, each mom’s urine showed about 45 different chemicals. These included phthalates, newer plastic‑softening chemicals, PAHs and halogenated phenols. You can find them in food, water, air, soaps, perfumes and many household items.
Phthalates and Their Replacements Are Still Common
Phthalates are used in toys, diaper creams, shampoos and other baby products. In 2017 the U.S. banned eight phthalates in children’s items, but many other products still contain them.
The new study also found replacement chemicals. They showed up in the urine just like the older phthalates.
More Than 5,000 Mother‑Child Pairs Were Studied
The scientists examined over 5,000 moms and their babies born from 2000 to 2021. They checked 113 common chemicals in the moms’ urine and compared the results with how long the pregnancy lasted and the baby’s birth weight.
Each sample had about 45 chemicals; the most chemicals in one sample were 64. Several phthalates and replacement plasticizers were linked to shorter pregnancies. The same chemicals, plus PAHs and some halogenated phenols, were tied to lower birth weight.
Even newer plasticizers, meant to be safer, seemed to act like the older toxic ones.
Scientists Ask for Tougher Safety Rules
“Our study shows we need stronger rules to keep people safe from toxic chemicals,” said senior researcher Tracey Woodruff, PhD, from Stanford. She added that new chemicals must be tested before they reach the market.
Other researchers agreed, saying even small changes in birth weight or pregnancy length can affect a child’s health for years.
They also noted that most exposure sources are hard for individuals to control. Governments and companies must work together to reduce harmful chemicals in everyday items.
The research was supported by the ECHO Program of the National Institutes of Health.