On February 6, 2024, a new publication in the Lancet Planetary Health received national and international headlines. This study, funded through the NIH, revealed a striking association between certain chemicals in our environment and preterm birth. But is this data really new? We have known that certain chemical components, called phthalates, have a strong association with preterm birth for over 10 years now. Nonetheless, it is always a good reminder to reduce or avoid exposures to potentially dangerous substances which are ubiquitous in today’s culture. What exactly are phthalates? What did this new data reveal? In this episode, we will dive into the data and put things into proper perspective. PLUS, at the end of the episode, I’ll review 10 common-sense things that we can all do daily to try to reduce our exposure to these“forever chemicals”.
