A new peer-reviewed study has found a link between exposure to Dinch, a plasticizer used in various consumer goods, and lower birth weight and fetal development complications. Dinch was introduced by industry as a "high safety" and nontoxic alternative to common phthalate plasticizers.
The chemical, formally named 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, is used to make plastic flexible and durable. It is present in soft plastic food packaging in the United States and European Union, as well as in children's toys, medical devices, and other consumer products.
Researchers at New York University Langone Health analysed federal US health data from over 6,600 pregnancies. The study indicated that up to 70% of women showed Dinch in their urine, and higher levels were associated with an increased risk of a child being classified as "small for gestational age." The findings suggest that a tenfold increase in Dinch exposure resulted in a 27-gram reduction in newborn birth weight.
Leonardo Trasande, a lead author on the NYU paper, stated that "chemicals should be properly tested for their safety before they become a widespread exposure for unwitting people in the general public." He also noted that the plastics treaty under negotiation at the United Nations offers an opportunity to establish better policies for chemical oversight.