Are mom prenatal bisphenols and phthalates tied to fetal-placental balance?

What's actually in it

Bisphenols and phthalates are common chemicals used to make plastics. Bisphenols are often found in hard plastics and the linings of food containers. Phthalates are chemicals that make plastic soft and flexible.

These chemicals are not locked inside the plastic. They leach out into your food and water. Once they enter your body, they can act as endocrine disruptors: they interfere with your body's natural hormones. Because these chemicals are everywhere, from bottled water to beverage cups, it is difficult to avoid them completely during pregnancy.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf looked at how these chemicals affect the fetoplacental ratio. This ratio is a key marker of how a fetus and placenta grow in relation to each other. The researchers found that exposure to bisphenols and phthalates during pregnancy is associated with changes in this balance.

This is part of a growing body of peer-reviewed research showing that these substances are not harmless. Other studies have linked these same chemicals to allergic phenotypes in children. When you are pregnant, your body is highly sensitive to these disruptions. The science shows that these chemicals do not just sit in the plastic. They move into your system and can impact the vital development of the pregnancy itself.