Children’s exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items poses growing health risks that may extend well into adulthood, experts at NYU Langone Health report. This is the main conclusion following a review of hundreds of the latest studies on the subject, published online in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
The Role of Plastics in the Development of Many Chronic Diseases
The article was published to coincide with a meeting of experts in New York City to discuss the global impact of plastics on human health. In their report, the authors set out decades of evidence that substances commonly added to industrial and household products can contribute to disease and disability, particularly when they occur at a young age. The study focuses on three classes of chemicals: phthalates, which are used to make plastics more flexible, bisphenols, which provide strength, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which make materials heat- and water-repellent.
The results of the studies, which collectively examined thousands of pregnant women, fetuses and children, linked these toxins to a variety of long-term health problems, including heart disease, obesity, infertility and asthma. “Our findings suggest that plastics play a role in the development of many chronic diseases that carry over into adolescence and adulthood,” said the study’s lead author and pediatrician Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP. “If we want children to stay healthy and live longer, we need to get serious about limiting the use of these materials,” added Trasande, Jim G. Hendrick, MD, professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
These chemicals are found in a number of products, including food packaging, cosmetics and paper, noted Trasande, who is also a professor in the Department of Population Health. Experts have found that when plastics are used, heated or chemically treated, microplastics and nanoparticles are released, which are then ingested. Chemicals used in plastics have been shown to trigger an overactive immune response (inflammation) throughout body tissues and disrupt the function of hormones that affect many bodily processes. These substances are also thought to affect brain development. Numerous studies have linked early exposure to a decline in IQ and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Lancet study also looked at strategies to reduce plastic consumption and protect human health.
Replacing plastic containers with glass or stainless steel and avoiding the use of plastic in the microwave and dishwasher have been shown to help, according to the researchers. Trasande adds that by providing clear guidelines, healthcare providers can empower parents to make informed decisions about the products they use and guide them towards safer options. He also suggests that doctors work with schools and community organizations to raise awareness among younger generations about the health risks of exposure to plastic. At a policy level, the researchers call for stricter regulatory measures to reduce the use of non-essential plastic items, particularly in low-income communities with severe health inequalities.
However, Plastic Can Also Play an Important Role in Pediatric Medicine
Her research follows the latest round of negotiations on the United Nations Global Plastics Agreement, which took place in Geneva last month. The agreement, which is currently under development, is an international initiative to combat plastic pollution, with more than 100 countries calling for legally binding caps on production. According to Trasande, the article’s findings underpin the urgent need for a strong agreement that helps protect not only the environment but also human health. He notes that while the economic value of the plastics industry is often cited as an obstacle to passing regulations, the health costs of exposure are enormous, which he estimates to be around $250 billion per year in the United States alone.
The global plastics agreement is part of the discussion during NYU Langone Health’s Plastics, Human Health, and Solutions Symposium. The event, held now in September, discussed the latest research on the health effects of microplastics, recent policy developments, and the critical role of regulations in addressing this public health crisis. Despite its health risks, plastic can play an important role in pediatric medicine, for example in ventilators and feeding tubes for premature babies, inhalers for children with asthma and masks that prevent the spread of infections. According to the researchers, the results do not call into question the necessity of the material in healthcare, but rather underline the dangers of its unnecessary use in other areas.