Some childhood chronic diseases have been linked to chemicals in plastics

In the research conducted by New York University (NYU) Langone Health Center, experts examined studies that observed thousands of pregnant mothers, fetuses and children.

The research focused on three chemical classes: phthalates, which are used to make plastic flexible; bisphenols, which provide rigidity; and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which help materials resist heat and repel water.

The study found that these chemicals, used in plastic products, trigger extreme inflammation in the body's tissues and disrupt the function of hormones that affect many bodily processes.

Accordingly, it has been found that chemicals can cause hormone disorders, inflammation in the immune system and problems in brain development.

Childhood exposure to these toxins has been linked to a wide range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, obesity, infertility and asthma, the researchers noted.

"Our findings point to the role of plasticity in the early origins of many chronic diseases that continue to resonate into adolescence and adulthood," the study's lead author and pediatrician Leonardo Trasande said in a statement.

Trasande noted that it's helpful to use glass or stainless steel instead of plastic containers and not to microwave or dishwasher plastics.

The results of the study were published in the journal "The Lancet".