According to the study, one in ten premature births is linked to exposure of pregnant women to phthalates.

Scientists analyzed the levels of phthalates in the urine of more than 5,000 pregnant women in the United States. The result: One in ten premature births in the United States is linked to maternal exposure to these chemicals, according to an American study published Wednesday, February 7. The Lancet Planetary Health. Phthalates are present in plastics, cosmetics and paints.

These chemicals, endocrine and metabolic disruptors, “May accelerate labor and premature birth”, the lead author of the study, Leonardo Trasande (New York University), told AFP. According to these analyses, the 10% of women with the highest levels of phthalates had a 50% increased risk of preterm birth (defined as less than 37 weeks’ gestation) compared to the 10% with the lowest levels.

Because premature birth can cause health problems, the researchers also estimated the medical and societal costs of premature birth associated with phthalates, citing a range between $1.6 billion and $8.1 billion. If the study was conducted in the United States, Leonardo Trasande, given the ubiquity of phthalates, 5 to 10% of premature births in other countries could be linked to these chemicals.