Exposure to a new generation of plasticizers marketed as safe alternatives to older toxic chemicals is linked to lower birth weight and fetal development complications, according to a peer-reviewed study published this week. The research focuses on a chemical known as DINCH, which is widely used in soft plastic food packaging in the United States and European Union.
As health risks associated with common phthalate plasticizers became clear over the last few decades, the industry shifted toward DINCH. Manufacturers claimed the chemical was a high safety, nontoxic alternative. It is found in children’s toys, medical devices, textiles, flooring, and common kitchen products such as cling film and plastic wine corks.
The analysis, led by researchers at New York University Langone Health, suggests these claims may not hold up under scrutiny. The study is the first to link DINCH directly to lower birth weights and shorter birth lengths. Fetal growth problems can increase the risk for heart disease, learning difficulties, and obesity later in life.
Regrettable Substitution in Chemical Manufacturing
The findings highlight a pattern known as regrettable substitution. This occurs when industry replaces one dangerous chemical with a compound that has similar health effects, effectively resetting the regulatory and research process. German chemical giant BASF is among the major producers of DINCH. Global production volume for the chemical jumped from 25,000 tons in 2002 to 400,000 tons in 2024.
This trend mirrors previous shifts in the chemical industry. For example, many companies replaced dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas) with GenX compounds. Years of subsequent research revealed that the newer compounds were often more toxic than the originals they replaced.
Leonardo Trasande, a lead author on the NYU paper, emphasized the need for better safety protocols. He stated that chemicals should be properly tested for their safety before they become a widespread exposure for unwitting people in the general public.
Study Data and Health Implications
Researchers analyzed data for over 6,600 pregnancies collected as part of the National Institutes of Health Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (Echo) Program. The study found that up to 70% of women showed DINCH in their urine. Higher levels of exposure increased the risk of the child being classified as small for gestational age, meaning below the 10th percentile for babies born at the same stage of pregnancy.
Each tenfold increase in DINCH exposure resulted in a 27-gram reduction in newborn birth weight. An average newborn weighs about 3,400 grams. The study also noted that Hispanic mothers or those with lower education levels were more likely to have children affected by DINCH exposure.
Previous research on animals and human cells has found that DINCH by-products can interfere with the hormones in a pregnant woman that guide fetal development. These chemicals may also trigger inflammation that affects how nutrients and oxygen reach the baby. The formal name for the chemical is 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester.
The Food Packaging Forum, a Switzerland-based research group, expressed concern about the lack of health information surrounding DINCH. They noted that evidence shows the chemical migrates from food packaging into food, and levels in the EU population have been increasing across recent decades. The group is currently conducting its own health research on the substance.
Trasande noted that the results underscore the need for stronger oversight of chemicals used in food packaging and other household products. He argued for requiring testing before chemicals are introduced to the market, rather than after they are connected to health concerns. He pointed to the plastics treaty under negotiation at the United Nations as an opportunity to establish better policies.
For now, researchers suggest that women can protect themselves and their children by buying plastic-free products as much as possible. This includes clothing and toys. They also recommend looking for food at the grocery store that comes in glass packaging and using glass or wood storage and utensils in the kitchen.
Source: The Guardian
