Medical Minute: Plastics and the Unborn Baby

As if pregnant mothers don't have enough on their mind, now researchers are warning that a common type of chemical found in plastic things like vinyl flooring, food packaging, and even toys could delay the number of words their child knows as a toddler.

Scientists found mothers who had higher levels of the chemical phthalate in their system had a higher likelihood to have children who could say fewer words between the age of 2 and 3.  If children at that age new fewer than 50 words they were considered language delayed. 

Now, we don't know the long-term language delays associated with plastic exposure and it's nearly impossible to avoid phthalate, but scientists suggest pregnant moms avoid heating plastic food containers, which is a good suggestion for everyone.  

More research is needed to see the true impact of this chemical on the brain of an unborn baby.