If you are pregnant, be careful with plastic utensils.

New research published in Lancet Planetary Healthshows a consideration that should be taken into account pregnant, although this largely depends on where they live. It shows that certain chemical compounds called phthalates, may be behind a significant amount premature birth. Phthalates are used for many industrial purposes, one of which is to soften plastics. They are also found in e-cigarette refills, so this is another thing to consider if you are pregnant.

They began to be used in the 1920s, but were not mass produced until the 1950s, when they began to be used for… PVC processing. Since then, despite their physical benefits, it has been noted that they can cause health problems. This is so because they endocrine disruptors. That is, they interfere with the proper functioning of hormones. Therefore, they can cause diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, or certain reproductive conditions.

It is for this reason that the study authors wanted to test whether preterm birth might have any connection. And they saw that it was so. In fact, according to their calculations, they could be behind 10% premature birth in USA. Moreover, they believe that this figure can be extrapolated to other countries, although a very important fact must be taken into account. Some countries, such as Europe, have already banned phthalates.

How have phthalates been linked to preterm birth?

To conduct this study, the authors analyzed levels of phthalates in urine. 5000 pregnant women. Then, when they all gave birth, the numbers obtained by measuring their urine were ordered from lowest to highest and compared with the week of pregnancy in which they gave birth.

Thus, the 10% of mothers with the highest phthalates levels had a 50% greater risk of giving birth before 37 weeks compared to 10%. Extrapolating from 2018 birth data in the US, this would correspond to 56,600 birthswhich accounted for 10% of preterm births occurring in that country that year.

Does this happen the same in all countries?

The health risks associated with phthalates have been demonstrated to the point of banning their use in food packaging in some places. For example, in Europe this ban came into force in 2023, the same as the ban bisphenol A.

Therefore, there will not be as much risk here as in other places. However, you will have to take something into account. And many times we use like dishes some old containers, which although shaped like a dump truck and containing food inside, are not meant to be reused. Moreover, they are not only not intended for this, but also heating them can be very dangerousas they release traces of harmful plastic ingredients.

Some of these containers, if manufactured before 2023, may contain phthalates. Therefore, this is something we should all pay attention to, especially more vulnerable cases such as cases pregnant

Does this mean we can know with certainty that this is what the study suggests is the proportion of preterm births associated with plastic? Not now. The study will need to be repeated and find a cause-and-effect relationship. Does this mean that these types of substances are not dangerous for pregnant women? Neither one nor the other. We must resort to the precautionary principle. And does this mean that women who give birth prematurely using plastic food containers should feel guilty about it? Not at all. All this can be multifactorial. Moreover, something like this is not blame from no one.

Now, if you can avoid plastic bundles during pregnancy, especially old and reused ones, so much the better. Give my regards to glasswareeven if you are not pregnant.