Can neonatal feeding tubes and bags expose premature babies to DEHP phthalate?

What's actually in it

Medical feeding tubes and nutrition bags used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are often made from PVC plastic softened with DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate). DEHP leaches out of the plastic when warm liquids like breast milk or formula flow through the tubes. Premature babies receive continuous feedings through these tubes, sometimes for weeks or months.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Environ Sci Technol measured phthalate and plasticizer exposure in premature newborns receiving enteral nutrition through plastic feeding equipment. The researchers found that these babies had elevated DEHP metabolite levels in their bodies, directly tied to the feeding tubes and bags.

Premature babies are especially vulnerable because their livers and kidneys can't clear chemicals efficiently. DEHP is an endocrine disruptor that can affect hormone development, reproductive organ growth, and brain development at these tiny doses.

Ask your NICU if they use DEHP-free feeding tubes and bags. Many hospitals are switching to silicone or polyurethane alternatives that don't contain phthalates.