Environmental Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth

Abstract

Prematurity is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and can lead to an array of adverse health effects in the lives of those who survive. The contribution of environmental exposures to preterm birth is understudied; however, identification of potential contributing factors offers significant hope for combating preterm birth for several reasons: (1) pregnant women are unintentionally exposed to many chemicals throughout gestation, some of which have demonstrated reproductive toxicities¹; (2) increased exposure to some chemicals over past decades correlates strongly with increased rates of preterm birth, which may be the result of various confounders but may also indicate a real association; and (3) exposure to environmental contaminants may be largely modifiable, opportune for interventions at the individual, clinical, and population levels.