Chemicals called phthalates have been found in those consuming fast foods and could harm pregnant women and children, according to a new analysis of federal nutritional surveys.
Bloomberg Business reported on Wednesday that phthalates are used to make plastics more durable and flexible. Researchers believe that these chemicals may be leeching into food from machinery used for processing, packaging, or from gloves worn by workers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the health consequences of phthalates are not fully known, but Bloomberg stated that many researchers are focused on the chemical's effects on the health and development of pregnant women and children.
The New York Times reported in 2014 that phthalates are in the category of industrial compounds known as endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system controls the production and distribution of hormones in the body.
The Times wrote that the chemicals have been implicated in a number of health problems, including birth defects, cancers, and diabetes.
"Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are widely used industrial chemicals that may adversely impact human health," stated the study. "Human exposure is ubiquitous and can occur through diet, including consumption of processed or packaged food."
The study's findings were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives on Wednesday.
Researchers from the Environmental Health Perspectives study examined data from 8,877 people who participated in federal nutrition surveys between 2003 and 2010. Participants answered questions about what they ate in the last 24 hours and gave urine samples that were analyzed.
"Right now there are few choices for individuals who are interested in reducing their exposure, and there's also not very much regulation [of phthalates]," Ami Zota, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
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