Obesity, infertility, asthma: plastic is a danger to children's health.

Exposure to chemicals contained in plastic during childhood poses a health threat that can have long-term consequences in adulthood. This is the conclusion of a large study published in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health by a group of experts from New York University and other international scientific institutions. The study analyzed hundreds of studies published in recent years, finding convincing evidence that early exposure to these endocrine disruptors may be a risk factor for chronic diseases such as obesity, asthma, and infertility.

Dangerous ingredients

The study reviews the scientific literature on the potential effects of plastic substances on human health. It serves as a reminder of the urgency of the problem, coming just weeks after the collapse of negotiations for a Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution, which were scuttled in Geneva in August due to opposition from major oil-producing countries.

The review focused on three classes of chemicals: phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS, additives used to make plastic objects more flexible, resistant, and non-stick. These additives have been repeatedly accused in the past of promoting inflammation, disrupting the human endocrine system, and thus causing a multitude of different health problems.

The effects on health

The research reviewed in the study published in the Lancet involved thousands of participants, including pregnant women, infants, and children. It clearly indicates the long-term harms of exposure to the three types of chemicals during fetal development and early childhood: increased cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases such as obesity, infertility problems, and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. The results therefore confirm not only the acute toxicity of these substances to the developing body, but also the long-term health consequences.

The research also illustrates the growing concerns within the scientific community about the potential harmful effects of microplastics. Microscopic fragments resulting from the degradation of plastic materials can enter our bodies in a variety of ways (breathing, eating, or drinking contaminated food) and carry with them other harmful chemicals that can cause tissue inflammation and thus promote the onset of chronic diseases.

Causes and solutions

Regarding the mechanism by which phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS cause harm to the human body, research points to their ability to act as endocrine disruptors, substances that interfere with the normal activity of hormones. This hormonal disruption, in turn, during a delicate stage such as fetal development and the first years of life, has harmful effects on the metabolism, immune system, and reproductive system, and can compromise neurodevelopment.

Regarding the solution to the problem, the study's authors propose a multi-pronged approach. Stricter international regulations will clearly be needed to regulate the use of harmful substances and minimize the risk of exposure, especially to the very young. However, even small individual choices can make a difference: the scientists urge parents to minimize the use of plastic objects during their children's early years. This is especially true for containers, cups, cutlery, and other food-use items, which, when heated or washed in the dishwasher, can release any harmful chemicals they may contain. Metal or glass alternatives should be used wherever possible.