Can phthalate exposure during pregnancy cause developmental delays in babies?

What's actually in it

Phthalates are plasticizers added to PVC plastic and used as solvents in personal care products. They're in IV tubing, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, some food packaging, shampoos, lotions, and nail polish. They're measured in almost every pregnant person tested.

The developing brain is especially sensitive to phthalates because these chemicals disrupt thyroid hormone signaling. Thyroid hormones direct brain development during fetal and infant stages. When the signal gets disrupted, the timing and pace of neurodevelopment can go off track.

What the research says

The 2026 ECHO study in Environ Int pooled data from multiple US research centers and tracked over a thousand mother-child pairs. Researchers measured phthalate metabolites in urine during pregnancy, then assessed child development at ages 1, 2, and 3.

Higher levels of DEHP metabolites (from common flexible plastics) were linked to lower scores on language, fine motor, and cognitive development tests. The effect showed up at age 1 and continued through age 3.

The study is notable because of its size: the ECHO consortium combines data across many US sites, which makes the findings harder to dismiss as a one-off result. The association held after adjusting for income, maternal education, and other factors.

The highest phthalate exposures in the study came from food packaging, personal care products, and vinyl materials in the home. Switching to glass food containers, fragrance-free personal care products, and avoiding vinyl flooring during pregnancy are the main ways to lower exposure.