Common Plastic Chemical Linked to Nearly 2 Million Preterm Births in a Single Year

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A Chemical Hidden in Plain Sight

It's in your shampoo, your food packaging, and the shower curtain in your bathroom. It can float through the air as household dust, enter your body through water and food, and now a major new study suggests it may be one of the most underestimated threats to maternal and infant health on the planet.

The chemical in question is DEHP — di-2-ethylhexylphthalate — a member of a broader family of industrial compounds called phthalates. They are added to plastics to make them softer and more flexible, and they are virtually everywhere in modern life.

A study published on March 31, 2026 in the peer-reviewed journal eClinicalMedicine, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health in New York City, now offers the first global estimate of how many premature births may be connected to DEHP exposure — and the numbers are sobering.

What the Study Found

According to the research team, DEHP exposure in 2018 was associated with approximately 1.97 million preterm births worldwide. That equals more than 8 percent of all premature births recorded globally that year. Beyond the births themselves, the study estimates that around 74,000 newborns died as a result of complications linked to DEHP-associated prematurity.

The researchers also calculated that DEHP exposure may have contributed to roughly 1.2 million years of life lived with disability — a standard public health measure used to assess long-term illness burden.

"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," said lead author Sara Hyman, an associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Preterm birth — defined as delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy — is one of the leading causes of death in children under five, according to the World Health Organization. Babies who survive are at higher risk for breathing difficulties, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and vision or hearing problems.

How the Research Was Conducted

The team analyzed DEHP exposure data from national biomonitoring surveys conducted in the United States, Europe, and Canada, then used statistical modeling to extrapolate estimates across more than 200 countries and territories. For regions without their own survey data, they used results from earlier global analyses.

These exposure figures were then combined with existing epidemiological research linking phthalates to elevated preterm birth rates, along with global statistics on births and neonatal deaths.

The study is notable in one key respect: it is the first analysis of its kind to attempt a global estimate of the health burden tied specifically to DEHP — and to map which regions are carrying the heaviest load.

A Global Burden That Falls Unevenly

The Middle East and South Asia together account for an estimated 54 percent of illness associated with DEHP-linked preterm births. Both regions have rapidly growing plastics manufacturing sectors and are major recipients of global plastic waste.

Africa accounts for another 26 percent — but with a disproportionately high share of deaths relative to overall case numbers. Researchers attribute this to weaker healthcare infrastructure for premature infant care across much of the continent.

Wealthier nations with better neonatal care see fewer deaths, but they are far from unaffected.

The Replacement Chemical Is No Better

The study also examined DiNP — diisononyl phthalate — a compound that manufacturers have increasingly used as a replacement for DEHP following earlier regulatory restrictions. The findings were not reassuring: DiNP was estimated to be associated with approximately 1.88 million preterm births globally — nearly the same figure as DEHP itself.

This finding suggests that simply swapping one phthalate for another may not solve the problem. It also raises deeper questions about a regulatory approach that focuses on one chemical at a time, rather than the broader class.

Phthalates and the Human Body

Phthalates are what scientists call endocrine disruptors — chemicals that interfere with the body's hormone system. According to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, they have been linked to developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune problems.

DEHP can break down into microscopic particles that are breathed in, swallowed in food or water, or absorbed through the skin. It is found in a staggering range of products: cosmetics, detergents, insect repellents, medical tubing, children's toys, vinyl flooring, food packaging, and air fresheners.

Previous research has also connected DEHP exposure to elevated risks for cancer, heart disease, and infertility.

Important Caveats: What the Study Cannot Prove

The researchers are careful to draw a clear line. The study does not prove that DEHP or DiNP directly cause preterm birth. It is a statistical association, not a controlled experiment. The model also does not account for all types of phthalates, and the true effect could be up to four times smaller than the central estimate — or, in some scenarios, slightly higher.

Not all scientists are convinced. Some researchers have pointed out that the most common plastics — including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET — do not contain phthalates at all. Critics of studies in this area have also raised concerns about how exposure data from a handful of wealthy nations is applied to global populations with very different living conditions and product exposures.

Still, the study's authors note that the scientific evidence is substantial enough to warrant concern — and that current phthalate regulations are unlikely to produce meaningful improvements in public health without more comprehensive reform.

What You Can Do to Reduce Exposure

While regulatory change is a slow process, there are practical steps individuals can take to lower their personal exposure:

• Check cosmetics labels. Look for products explicitly marketed as phthalate-free. Nail polish, shampoos, and perfumes are common sources.
• Replace PVC shower curtains with fabric alternatives that are labeled phthalate-free.
• Choose safer children's toys — wood and natural rubber are phthalate-free alternatives to soft plastic toys.
• Avoid synthetic air fresheners. These often contain a mix of volatile compounds, including phthalates.
• Reduce reliance on plastic food packaging, particularly for fatty foods, which can absorb phthalates more readily.

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Sources

1. NYU Langone Health – Official Press Release: https://nyulangone.org/news/plastic-additives-tied-millions-preterm-births-worldwide
2. eClinicalMedicine (Lancet) – Original Study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103842
3. CNN Health – Coverage of the Study: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/31/health/phthalates-infant-death-prematurity-wellness
4. MedicalXpress – Study Summary: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-plastic-additives-millions-preterm-births.html
5. NYU Langone – Division of Environmental Pediatrics (Research Overview): https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/pediatrics/divisions/environmental-pediatrics/research/policy-initiatives/plastic-exposure-preterm-birth
6. World Health Organization – Preterm Birth Fact Sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
7. U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – Phthalates: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/phthalates

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