Hazardous Plastics Materials for Children Found in Every Home

SadaNews - An analysis of hundreds of recent studies published today, Monday, in the journal "The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health," revealed that early exposure to chemical substances found in plastics can pose severe health risks to children that may persist into adulthood.

The review, which found that children face a significant risk from plastics present in the environment, focused on three categories of those substances, namely: phthalates, which make plastics flexible; bisphenols, which provide strength; and perfluoroalkyl substances, which make materials heat-resistant and water-repellent.

These chemicals are found in everyday products such as food packaging and cosmetics, according to the lead author, Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York.

For example, heating plastics in the microwave can release microplastics and nanoparticles, which can then be ingested.