By Lisa O’Mary
Source WebMD
Chemicals used to make everyday plastic items like food containers and cosmetic packages may be linked to the rise in preterm births, according to a new study.
Preterm births are those that occur before the 37th week of pregnancy, and the CDC warned earlier this month that they are on the rise.
For the study, the researchers looked for chemicals called phthalates in about 5,000 U.S. mothers by analyzing their urine at various points during their pregnancies. Phthalates have long been known to affect hormone functions that can sometimes affect other body processes.
Read more https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20240207/chemicals-common-food-packaging-preterm-birth