16 Feb 2024 --- Phthalates, synthetic chemicals widely used in various packaging products, contributed to over 56,000 preterm births in 2018, according to New York University (NYU) researchers. The lost economic productivity and additional medical care costs due to phthalate-induced preterm birth in 2018 ranged between US$1.63 billion – US$8.14 billion. The researchers identified associations of phthalate exposure, commonly found in food containers, with decreased gestational age in a large and diverse sample representative of the US.
