Plastics and Kids: The Hidden Connection to Obesity, Infertility, and Asthma

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily

Plastic chemicals tied to hormone disruption, inflammation, and brain development issues may fuel chronic diseases that begin in childhood. Experts call for both personal lifestyle changes and sweeping global policies to reduce unnecessary plastic use. Credit: Shutterstock

Childhood exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items presents growing health risks that can extend long into adulthood, experts from NYU Langone Health report.

In their report, the authors outline decades of evidence that substances often added to industrial and household goods may contribute to disease and disability, particularly when they are encountered early in life. The review focuses on three classes of chemicals: phthalates used to make plastic flexible, bisphenols, which provide rigidity, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which help materials resist heat and repel water.

The results of the studies, which together assessed thousands of pregnant mothers, fetuses, and children, tied these toxins to a wide range of long-term health concerns, including heart disease, obesity, infertility, and asthma.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250922074947.htm