Sierra Blogging Post Archives

This isn't the first time we've talked about the dangers of plastic to our health and the health of the planet. But now another type of plastic is being linked to liver problems in premature babies.

A plastic chemical called DEHP, a type of phthalate (pronounced thowl-ate), is used to make the intravenous tubing and feeding bags that are used to nourish preemies in the hospital (as well as vinyl flooring and certain toys.) Studies on animals have already shown problems with liver and reproductive damage. And now, a new study on premature babies seems to indicate that DEHP raises their risk of liver damage.


From the article on MSNBC: Serious liver problems involving reduced flow of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver, developed in 50 percent of the infants fed with the tubes containing DEHP versus just 13 percent of the other infants. "This is a pretty strong damnation of phthalates," Deborah Cory-Slechta, an environmental medicine professor at the University of Rochester medical school said. "It needs to be replicated. But I still think this makes a very strong case for getting rid of these compounds in infant intensive care units," she said.

Many hospitals have already made the switch to DEHP- or phtalate-free IV tubes. Beth Lyman, a pediatric nutrition nurse at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, says her hospital made the switch ten years ago and since then she has noticed a decrease in liver problems in the IV-fed preemies in her unit.

Not everyone is convinced of the study's results, however. The American Chemistry Council, which represents chemical manufacturers, claims the study is flawed and that there could be other reasons for the liver damage.

When it comes to our children, better safe than sorry as far as I'm concerned. What do you think?