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Letter
Phthalates in the NICU: a survey
  1. Myriam Bickle-Graz,
  2. Jean-Francois Tolsa,
  3. Céline Julie Fischer Fumeaux
  1. Clinic of Neonatology, Department of Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Myriam Bickle-Graz, Clinic of Neonatology, Department of Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland; myriam.bickle-graz{at}chuv.ch

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2019-317582

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    Phthalates are chemicals used to enhance the flexibility, solidity and durability of plastics. In neonatal intensive care units (NICU), neonates are exposed to phthalates percutaneously, through drugs, blood transfusions and medical devices (MD) used for ventilation, infusions, nutrition, with daily doses potentially exceeding by far doses considered as secure.1 Experimental and epidemiological data suggest phthalates could act as endocrine disruptors, and may be associated with altered neurodevelopment (attention deficit, autism), including in children after intensive care.2 Although several authorities recommend to limit the exposure to phthalates in medical care (DEHP, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in particular) and European regulations stipulate that ‘Devices …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MBG, CJFF and JFT planned the survey and helped launch it. MBG analysed the data. MBG and CJFF wrote the initial manuscript and the revision. All three authors approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.