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Robin M. Whyatt, Dr.P.H., A multi-state epidemiologic study funded in part by NIEHS reports that women at the upper range of exposure to the plasticizing agent di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, also known as DEHP, had a two day longer gestation length than women at the lower range of exposure. The highly exposed women also had higher odds for caesarian section delivery and delivery at 41 weeks of gestation or later, and decreased odds for preterm delivery. These findings suggest that DEHP may interfere with the hormonally controlled signaling that initiates birth. Phthalates are used in a wide variety of products including enteric coatings of food and beverage containers, pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements, gelling agents, personal care products, medical devices, detergents, children's toys, nail polish, and many other applications. As of 2004, manufacturers produced 800 million pounds of phthalates each year. By weight, phthalates contribute 10-60% of plastic products. When added to plastics, phthalates allow the long polyvinyl molecules to slide against one another. Phthalates are easily released into the environment because there is no covalent bond between the phthalates and plastics in which they are mixed. As plastics age and break down, the release of phthalates accelerates. Phthalates in the environment are subject to biodegradation, photo-degradation, and anaerobic degradation; therefore, they do not generally persist in the outdoor environment. This study adds to the body of knowledge that phthalates and other agents in plastics are hormonally active and act as endocrine disruptors affecting a variety of physiological processes. Citation: Adibi JJ, Hauser R, Williams PL, Whyatt RM, Calafat AM, Nelson H, Herrick R,Swan SH. Maternal urinary metabolites of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate in relation to the timing of labor in a US multicenter pregnancy cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Apr 15;169(8):1015-24. |
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