Endocrine disruptors and phthalates: a risk to children's vision

A 2026 study published in Environment International found that prenatal and early-life exposure to phthalates is significantly linked to visual impairment in children by age 3. The data shows that for girls, the risk is particularly clear: each unit increase in mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate during late pregnancy was associated with an odds ratio of 2.47 for developing vision issues. You can read the full study here.

Researchers tracked 15 different endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including bisphenols and phthalates, across multiple developmental windows. While boys showed some sensitivity to specific chemicals, the consistency of the findings in girls suggests that these common plasticizers are interfering with critical stages of ocular development.

You cannot avoid every chemical in the environment, but you can control what comes into your home. Start by ditching soft plastic toys, PVC-based baby gear, and plastic food storage containers that leach these compounds. We have curated a list of non-toxic baby alternatives that are tested and proven to be free from these specific hazards. Stop the exposure at the source.

Source: Ham D, Kim SY, Bae S, Ko-CHENS Study group (2026). Environ Int.