Can DEHP from plastic food wrap raise blood pressure in children?

What's actually in it

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most common phthalates in everyday products. It's used to soften PVC plastics, and you'll find it in cling wrap, food packaging, vinyl flooring, and even some children's toys. It leaches into food, especially when plastic touches something warm or oily.

DEHP acts as an endocrine disruptor. It interferes with how your body makes and uses hormones, including ones that control blood pressure.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Pollut investigated how prenatal DEHP exposure affects blood pressure in offspring. Researchers found that DEHP activates a receptor called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in blood vessel tissue during fetal development.

This receptor controls genes involved in blood vessel tone and inflammation. When DEHP flips it on at the wrong time, blood vessels develop in a way that makes them stiffer and more reactive. The result is higher blood pressure that persists into childhood and beyond.

The study showed that blocking the AhR pathway reversed the blood pressure changes, confirming DEHP was the trigger. The damage happened at exposure levels similar to what pregnant people encounter from everyday plastic products.

Children's blood pressure problems often go unnoticed until adulthood. Reducing DEHP exposure during pregnancy is a smart precaution. Skip plastic cling wrap for food storage, especially on warm or fatty foods. Use glass containers with silicone lids, and avoid microwaving anything in plastic.