Plastic Chemicals May Have Contributed to 1.97 Million Preterm Births and 74,000 Newborn Deaths in One Year

The conversation around plastic pollution has shifted dramatically. It is no longer just an environmental crisis; it is beginning to look like a human health crisis. As we age, the accumulation of plastic particles in our bodies has been associated with a range of health concerns, from cardiovascular issues to cognitive decline. But emerging research reveals a far more startling reality: these chemicals may be thwarting our chances at a healthy life before we are even born.

A staggering new study from researchers at NYU Langone Health, published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine, has quantified the global impact of specific plastic additives on pregnancy outcomes. The findings are sobering: exposure to a single class of chemicals found in everyday plastics may have contributed to nearly 2 million preterm births and tens of thousands of newborn deaths worldwide in 2018 alone.^1,2

This data underscores an urgent need to understand what these "everywhere chemicals" are doing to our bodies – and, more importantly, how we can protect ourselves and our future families.

The Science: Unpacking the Lancet Study Findings

The study focused on a group of chemicals known as phthalates, specifically di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and its common replacement, diisononyl phthalate (DiNP). Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers to make materials more flexible and durable. They are ubiquitous, found in everything from food packaging and cosmetics to detergents and vinyl flooring.⁵

Because they are not tightly bound to the plastics they inhabit, phthalates easily break down and leach into our environment, entering our bodies through the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the dust in our homes.⁵

By analyzing population surveys and biomonitoring data, the researchers estimated the global burden of these chemicals. The results are alarming:

• 1.97 Million Preterm Births: DEHP exposure was linked to nearly 2 million preterm births globally in 2018, representing over 8% of the world's total preterm births that year.¹
• 74,000 Newborn Deaths: The study also associated DEHP exposure with tens of thousands of infant fatalities, highlighting the severe consequences of early delivery.¹
• Millions of Years of Life Lost: The researchers estimated that DEHP exposure contributed to 6.69 million years of life lost and 1.22 million years lived with disability.¹

While the burden is global, the study noted that regions with rapidly growing plastics industries and high levels of plastic waste, such as South Asia and the Middle East, bear a disproportionate share of the impact. Africa, which accounted for 26 percent of health problems from DEHP-linked preterm birth, has a disproportionate share of deaths compared with its share of overall premature cases, reflecting the region's higher underlying death toll from preterm birth.²

Why "Everywhere Chemicals" Are So Dangerous

Preterm birth (delivery before 37 weeks of gestation) is a major risk factor for both mothers and infants. According to the World Health Organization, it is a leading cause of infant mortality and can lead to lifelong health challenges.⁸

As Bryan Johnson recently pointed out when discussing this data, a child born at 28 weeks faces severe, compounded risks compared to a full-term baby, including:⁴

• 7x the risk of hearing impairment
• 5x the risk of vision abnormalities
• 3x the odds of dental enamel defects
• 2x the odds of developmental delay

But how exactly do plastic chemicals contribute to early delivery? Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. They can interfere with the body's delicate hormonal balance. In pregnant women, these chemicals have been associated with inflammation and metabolic disruption. Crucially, they may disrupt placental and maternal-fetal pathways, which researchers believe could trigger premature labor.^3,5

As Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the study's senior author, noted to CNN, "This is a dangerous class of chemicals." He explained that "Inflammation isn’t very good for placental adhesion and may facilitate ruptured membranes. Ruptured membranes, a lack of adhesion to the uterine wall and a loss of key nutrients to the fetus may trigger uterine contractions."³

Perhaps most concerning is the "Whac-A-Mole" approach to chemical regulation. As Dr. Trasande noted, regulating one phthalate often leads manufacturers to swap it for a poorly understood replacement. The study found that DiNP, a common substitute for DEHP, posed a nearly identical risk, contributing to an estimated 1.88 million preterm births and 64,000 deaths.^1,3

This highlights the urgent need to address hormonal health and microplastics holistically, rather than chasing individual chemicals.

Where Are Phthalates Hiding?

To reduce your exposure, you first need to know where these chemicals are commonly found. Because they are used to make plastics soft and flexible, as well as to help fragrances linger, they are pervasive in modern life.⁵

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

While the statistics are daunting, the takeaway should not be despair. It should be action. The good news is that phthalates have a short half-life and leave the body within a few days. Therefore, careful planning to avoid plastics can have a significant impact.³

If you are optimizing your health, planning a family, or simply want to minimize your exposure to these ubiquitous toxins, consider these practical ways to reduce microplastic exposure:

1. Rethink Your Food Storage: Swap flexible plastic containers and plastic wrap for glass, stainless steel, or silicone. Never microwave food in plastic, as heat accelerates the leaching of phthalates into your meals.
2. Go Fragrance-Free: Because phthalates are often used to make scents last longer, they are frequently hidden under the catch-all term "fragrance" or "parfum" on ingredient lists. Opt for products labeled "phthalate-free" or choose fragrance-free alternatives.
3. Filter Your Water: Invest in a high-quality water filter certified to remove microplastics and chemical contaminants.
4. Support Your Body's Natural Defenses: Your body has built-in detoxification pathways, but the sheer volume of modern chemical exposure can overwhelm them. This is where targeted nutritional support becomes crucial.

At Sifts, we developed Sifts Daily specifically to address this modern challenge. Our formula includes clinically studied ingredients designed to support the removal of microplastics. By binding to plastics in your gut, Sifts helps flush them out naturally—before they can circulate through your system and accumulate in your tissues. It is a proactive daily step for anyone serious about reducing their internal plastic burden.

The Bottom Line

The Lancet study provides a sobering look at the true cost of our reliance on plastic. The chemicals that make our modern conveniences possible are exacting a heavy toll on global health, particularly on the most vulnerable among us. However, by staying informed, making mindful consumer choices, and supporting our body's natural resilience, we can navigate this plastic-heavy world with greater safety and confidence.

Citations

1. Hyman, S., Trasande, L., et al. (2026). "Preterm birth attributable to exposure to chemicals used in plastic materials: a global estimate." The Lancet eClinicalMedicine. Online first, Article 103842, March 30, 2026.
   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(26)00089-1/fulltext
2. NYU Langone Health. (2026, March 30). "Plastic Additives Tied to Millions of Preterm Births Worldwide." NYU Langone News.
   https://nyulangone.org/news/plastic-additives-tied-millions-preterm-births-worldwide
3. LaMotte, S. (2026, March 31). "Millions of preterm births and thousands of infant deaths linked to plastic chemical." CNN Health.
   https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/31/health/phthalates-infant-death-prematurity-wellness
4. Johnson, B. [@bryan_johnson]. (2026, March 31). "This is not good. 'Everywhere chemicals' leaching from plastics may have contributed to 1.97 million preterm births and 74,000 newborn deaths worldwide in one year (2018)..." X (formerly Twitter).
5. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). (2024). "Phthalates." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
   https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine
6. Trasande, L., et al. (2021). "Phthalates and attributable mortality: A population-based longitudinal cohort study and cost analysis." Environmental Pollution, 107020.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.107020
7. March of Dimes. (2025). 2025 March of Dimes Report Card: Preterm Birth in the United States.
   https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/united-states/report-card
8. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Preterm Birth." National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
   https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm